Join Jessi, Squeaks the Robot Lab Rat, and all their friends at the Fort as they conduct experiments, research new questions, and talk with experts to learn about the science-filled world around us.
There’s always something new to discover with SciShow Kids, no matter what your age!
SciShow Kids is ideal for early-elementary learners, Grades 1-3, and many episodes are structured around the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) curriculum.
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[Squeaks squeaking]
No, precipitation is the one where Hey there! Squeaks and I are
trying to solve a problem. Squeaks is having some trouble remembering the different parts of Earth’s water cycle. Earth’s water is constantly being recycled, coming down from the clouds
as raindrops and snowflakes…
00:24:
running across the ground in
streams and filling up puddles, and going back into the sky
and forming more raindrops. Scientists give these steps names: evaporation, condensation,
precipitation, and collection. Water goes through these
steps over and over again! That’s okay, Squeaks.
01:46:
Those are some new words and they
sound pretty similar to each other. Squeaks says he keeps forgetting
what happens in each step. I’m trying to think of a way to help him remember! Hey, I have it! What about a play? [Squeaks squeaking]
Sure, a play! Plays are a fun way to tell stories.
01:07:
And we can write one telling a story about how water moves through Earth’s water cycle. Scientists often use models to
explain things in the natural world that are hard to see or describe. A play can definitely be a model! And we can ask
01:23:
our friends if they want to help, too!
Agrees, and wants to play the part of water. That’s a great idea! Squeaks wants to pretend to be water in the play, and move through each step of the water cycle. Let’s ask our other friends to play
the other roles of evaporation,
02:39:
condensation, precipitation, and collection. Will you be the narrator? Aw, thanks, Squeaks, I would love
to be the narrator for your play! Let’s get in touch with everyone
to get this play underway! And we’ll see you at the performance! Welcome, friends, to the story
of Water’s Amazing Journey.
02:57:
Let’s follow water as it
moves through the water cycle. This adventure will take us hundreds of kilometers from sky to Earth, and back again. Our story begins with the Sun
shining brightly on the ocean. Water is resting on the surface
of the ocean, enjoying the waves.
02:16:
Hey, is it getting warm in here, or is it just me? It’s definitely getting warm… Thanks to the Sun’s energy. And when water gets warm enough… …it’s time for you, Water,
to join me, Evaporation! Come on, let’s begin your journey. Water begins to feel kind of funny.
03:36:
When water evaporates, it changes form. It changes from a liquid to a gas
called water vapor…and it rises! Water feels himself starting
to float into the air. When water vapor is high in
the sky, my work is done! See you next time, water! Water is now high above the
ground in Earth’s atmosphere.
03:01:
Temperatures up here are much
cooler than the warm temperatures that caused water to turn
into vapor and evaporate. Oh, hey, water, you’re back! Looks
like you evaporated from the ocean. Did it wave goodbye? Get it?
Wave? Like, the oceans have waves?
03:23:
Anyway. You’re here now, all
ready for me, Condensation. When water vapor gets cool, it condenses.
It turns from a gas back into a liquid. During condensation, water vapor
sticks together to form small drops. Small drops combine to form
bigger drops, and so on.
04:42:
We can see the condensed water
vapor in the sky as clouds. And clouds are the starting point
for the next part of water’s journey. Water doesn’t usually… And there are lots of kinds of clouds. Feathery cirrus clouds, fluffy cumulus
clouds…and my personal favorite,
04:60:
clouds that form storms, cumulonimbus clouds. Man, I could talk about clouds all day… Psst. Sam. Wha-? Oops, sorry. Stay cool until the next time I
see you, water…or don’t, I mean, I guess, since you have to be warm to evaporate. Water doesn’t usually stay
in the clouds for very long
04:20:
before it moves into the
next part of the water cycle. That’s right! What once
went up, must now come down. It’s time for me, Precipitation! Precipitation forms when a water drop
becomes too large to stay in a cloud. Water starts to feel kind of heavy…and
falls from the cloud toward the Earth!
05:41:
There are different kinds of
precipitation, like rain, hail, and snow. They’re all made of water. Which kind of precipitation forms
depends on things like temperature, and what kind of cloud the water is in. Clearly, precipitation is a lot
more exciting than evaporation.
05:57:
HEY! That line wasn’t in the script! Webb starts to argue “well it is
more interesting, though”…etc. Guys, guys, not right now! Cool it! Well, the show must go on. Once precipitation lands on the Earth, it
enters our final stage of the water cycle. Collection! That’s me!
05:17:
You can use the term “Collection”
to describe all the different things that can happen once water
falls and lands on Earth’s surface. You might land in a large lake or flowing river… …or freeze and become part of
a glacier or polar ice cap. You might land on dirt and
sink into the ground…or…
06:38:
Water suddenly feels like he’s
starting to slide downhill. Oh, neat! It looks like you’re
going to be part of some run-off. Run-off forms when water runs down
mountains and hills into streams… and the streams run into rivers…that
eventually end up flowing into an ocean.
06:58:
Come back again when you can stay longer! Maybe you can help one of
my plants to grow next time! Before he knows it, water is back
where his journey began, the ocean. What adventures will this water have during
its next trip through the water cycle?
06:15:
That’s a story for another
day…maybe one that you will write! [Squeaks squeaking]
Thanks for joining all of us on SciShow Kids. If you want to have fun with me,
Squeaks, and all our friends, you can subscribe to SciShow Kids! And wae’ll see you next time here at the Fort!