Follow a Raindrop Across California

Follow a Raindrop Across California Worksheet: The water cycle and the Sun (Grade 4 Science)

Students follow one raindrop in California: the Sun heats the Pacific Ocean, clouds form and move over the Sierra Nevada, rain or snow falls, and the Sacramento River carries the water back. They number the steps and name the parts of the water cycle. The page teaches the idea first, so no prior lesson is needed, and every answer is on the page.

What's Inside

• A teach box on evaporation, condensation, precipitation, collection, and the Sun as the energy source, with a worked example
• Part A: a picture of a California raindrop trip and five step cards to number in order, with step 1 done
• Part B: four circle questions that name the steps and the energy source
• A raccoon guide with a hint that matches the answer key
• An answer key with answers marked in red, plus a short teacher note with what to watch for

How Teachers Use It

Read the teach box and the worked example together, then let students try Part A and Part B. It takes 8 to 10 minutes and prints clearly in black and white. The focus skill is describing the water cycle and the role of the Sun. Standards: TEKS 4.10A: describe and illustrate the continuous movement of water above and on the surface of Earth through the water cycle and explain the role of the Sun as a major source of energy in this process.

Why It Works

A real California route makes the cycle easy to picture and follow. Questions are short, mostly circle answers, and the reasoning is on the teacher key.