The water cycle, also known as the hydrologic cycle, shows how water moves and goes to different places. Look for other sections like this and they will explain the different parts of the cycle. Including the collection, evaporation, condensation and precipitation.

The next part of the cycle is evaporation. Evaporation is the sun heating up ground water or oceans, lakes, etc and making it evaporate into water vapor or steam. This will eventually form into clouds.

Condensation is when the water vapor has risen to the sky and cold, it changes back to a liquid, which makes clouds. There are many types of clouds; different types of clouds happen with different amounts of water are evaporated.

The collection of water is where a lot of water is being kept. This could be an ocean, lakes, rivers, streams, or it can just land on dry land and make puddles, etc. This is called “Ground Water” and it can be a drink for plants and animals. Or it may run into soil, lakes, streams etc and run out into an ocean.

When a cloud stores up to much water through condensation, the air cannot hold it anymore. And the clouds get heavy and they let out the water. The water lands back down

As this is a cycle, it keeps going forever and ever. You may be drinking some water that was only rain a couple of minutes ago, but it could have been around a few thousand years ago when the dinosaurs were around, or during medieval times!