2nd grade · Science · Unit 2 of 9
Water World
The water cycle
What your child practices
The water cycle, where our water comes from, and simple ways to save water and keep rivers clean.
New York State Learning Standards learning standard: 2-ESS2-3 · where water is found on Earth and the forms it takes
How we explain it
Children can open this short lesson before they practice.
- The sun warms water, and it rises into the air.
- The water forms clouds of tiny drops, then falls as rain or snow.
- The water flows back to lakes and oceans, and the cycle starts again.
Example: What comes right after clouds form in the water cycle? Clouds hold tiny drops of water. When the drops get heavy, they fall. Answer: rain or snow falls
Water World in New York
In the New York State Learning Standards, this is unit 2 of 9 in 2nd grade Science, after Solids & Liquids and before Changing Materials.
Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.
Sample questions
A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.
Question 1
Put the water cycle in order. Start with the sun warming the water.
- ☁️Clouds form
- 🌊Water collects in rivers and oceans
- 🌧️Rain or snow falls
- ☀️Sun warms water and it rises
Sun warms water and it rises → Clouds form → Rain or snow falls → Water collects in rivers and oceans
Hint: Warm water rises into the sky, makes clouds, falls as rain, and collects in rivers and oceans.
Question 2
What do people use water for every day?
- 🎨only for painting
- 🚿drinking, cooking and washing
- 🚫nothing at all
🚿 drinking, cooking and washing
Hint: We use water for lots of things at home and at school.
Question 3
What is a good way to share water with plants without wasting it?
- 💦leave the hose on all night
- 🪣water them with rain collected in a barrel
- 🛁pour out a full bath on the grass
🪣 water them with rain collected in a barrel
Hint: Collecting rain helps us use less tap water.
Question 4
What does the sun do to a puddle on a warm day?
💧- 💦It grows bigger
- ☀️It dries up as water goes into the air
- 🪨It turns into a rock
☀️ It dries up as water goes into the air
Hint: The sun's heat makes water rise into the air as a gas you can't see. This is called evaporation.
Question 5
Which animal lives in water all its life?
- 🐿️a squirrel
- 🐦a robin
- 🐟a fish
🐟 a fish
Hint: Fish breathe underwater using their gills.
Question 6
Why should we keep litter out of streams and oceans?
- 😋It makes the water taste better
- 🗑️Fish love garbage
- 🐠It can harm fish and other animals
🐠 It can harm fish and other animals
Hint: Clean water keeps animals and plants healthy.