Grade 3 · Science · Unit 3 of 15
The Water Cycle
How water moves from lakes to clouds and back.
What your child practises
The water cycle: evaporation, condensation, precipitation and collection, with Alberta examples such as glacier melt feeding rivers.
Alberta Curriculum learning outcome: 3M1.5 · the water cycle and how water changes state as it moves
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, starting with the Sun warming water.
- ♨️Water evaporates
- 🏞️Water collects in rivers and lakes
- 🌧️Rain or snow falls
- ☀️Sun warms water in a lake
- ☁️Clouds form
Show answer
Sun warms water in a lake → Water evaporates → Clouds form → Rain or snow falls → Water collects in rivers and lakes
Hint: The Sun warms water, it evaporates, forms clouds, falls as precipitation and collects again.
Question 2
Rain, snow and hail are called…
🌨️- evaporation
- condensation
- melting
- precipitation
Show answer
precipitation
Hint: Precipitation is water falling from clouds.
Question 3
A pot lid has drops on its underside when you boil water. This is like which step?
🍳- melting
- evaporation
- precipitation
- condensation
Show answer
condensation
Hint: Hot vapour cools on the lid and becomes liquid.
Question 4
A farmer in southern Alberta hopes for rain. Rain is part of…
🌾- a food chain only
- the water cycle
- a landform
- a machine
Show answer
the water cycle
Hint: Rain is precipitation, a step in the cycle.
Question 5
Rain falls on soil and sinks down into the ground. This water is called…
🕳️- groundwater
- a glacier
- a cloud
- water vapour
Show answer
groundwater
Hint: Some water soaks into the ground and is stored there.
Question 6
In the Rocky Mountains, snow falls and collects on glaciers. When it melts, the water…
🏔️- stays frozen forever
- flows into streams and rivers
- turns into gas only
- goes back to the Sun
Show answer
flows into streams and rivers
Hint: Melting glaciers feed many Alberta rivers.