Water Cycle diagram - for kids!

From USGS (United State Geological Survey)

The Water Cycle—For Kids

The water cycle is vitally important for every person in the world—from a great grandmother in Nepal to a newborn crying in his crib in Omaha, Nebraska (and to YOU, too). The water cycle is a basic scientific concept that is taught even in elementary schools and is one of the first environmental concepts that children learn. Although the great grandmother might understand our main water-cycle diagram, it might be a bit too complex for young children.

So, if you're trying to find a simpler diagram of the water cycle, we have just what you are looking for. A company called The Straight Edge has produced a waterproof place mat about the water cycle (a description is at http://www.shopatron.com/product/product_id=SEI1330/309.0.8548.0.0.0.0); one that is meant for young children. If you have a young child at your house or in your class, just think—you can teach them about the water cycle as you are wiping up the spilled juice (which is, of course, mostly water) from this place mat. After all, juice running over the place mat can be considered runoff; if it spills on the floor, that would be freshwater storage (lake); and, if you are outside, the juice soaking into the ground is like infiltration. And, if the juice gets all over their clothes? Now, that is just a big mess, but it does provide an excellent example of capillary action!