Evaporation with Dried Fruits- Free Lesson

Evaporation: The link between dried fruits and the water cycle.

The students will learn the three components of the water cycle though song and dance. 

• A variety of dried fruits, such as: raisins, prunes, cranberries, banana, apples, and apricot.

• A fresh fruit of the same as one of the dried fruits selected.

• A water cycle diagram.

• Optional- The Water Cycle Boogie by the Banana Slug String Band 

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CoeJnjZtXg

Vocabulary:

Evaporation

Condensation

Precipitation

1. Have students discuss the differences between the dried and fresh fruit. The fresh fruit is juicer because it contains more water.

2. Ask students how the dried fruit may have lost its water, and where do they think the water went. Explain evaporation to students.

3. From this concept, move the lesson from the evaporation of water from the fruits to the evaporation in the water cycle. Have students brainstorm other places water can be evaporated from: lakes, rivers, ponds, streams, oceans.

4. Explain to students that the sun evaporates the water from the source and turns it into a gas. The gas turns into a cloud which is Condensation.

5. Ask students what they think happens when the clouds get full of the evaporated water drops. This leads into precipitation. Have students brainstorm the different types of precipitation. (rain, snow, sleet, hail, etc.)

6. Explain to students that the precipitation eventually makes its way back to the bodies of water and the water cycle repeats.

7. Play the Water Cycle Boogie song for students and have them follow along with the dance.

Allow students to sample some of the variety of dried and fresh fruits.

Have students identify the 3 components of the water cycle. Evaporation, Condensation, and Precipitation. On an incomplete diagram, have the students draw the arrows to show the movement of the water cycle.