New
New
The hydrological cycle
I can describe the hydrological cycle, including the major stores of water and the movement between them.
Lesson 1 of 13
New
New
- Year 9
The hydrological cycle
I can describe the hydrological cycle, including the major stores of water and the movement between them.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The hydrological cycle identifies the flows and stores of water globally.
- The major stores of water are the ocean, ice caps, groundwater, surface water and the atmosphere.
- The global hydrological cycle is a system.
- The movement of water between the water stores are called transfers.
- Climate change has an impact on the size of stores.
Keywords
Hydrological cycle - the continuous movement of water between the ocean, land, rivers and atmosphere
Transfers - the way water moves between the different stores within a cycle
Stores - where water is stored within the hydrological cycle
Atmosphere - the layer of gases that surround the Earth
Common misconception
Around one quarter of water is found on land.
Only 0.9% of water is stored on land.
Get students to look at their water bottles and they can think of different places that water may have been for millions of years.
Teacher tip
Equipment
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is a river?
What is a river?
A road for cars
A type of mountain
Q2.Where do rivers start?
Where do rivers start?
In the ocean
In the desert
Q3.What do rivers carry?
What do rivers carry?
Cars and people
Air and clouds
Q4.What is erosion?
What is erosion?
The process of rocks being added to the river
When a river dries up
Q5.What is the longest river in the world?
What is the longest river in the world?
Amazon River
Mississippi River
Yangtze River
Q6.What is the water cycle?
What is the water cycle?
The movement of water in pipes
The process of water being stored in reservoirs
The way water flows only through rivers
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.What is the hydrological cycle?
What is the hydrological cycle?
A man-made water system
A cycle that only happens in rivers
The movement of water in pipes
Q2.What is evaporation?
What is evaporation?
When water falls as rain
When water freezes into ice
When water soaks into the ground
Q3.How much of the Earth's water is stored on land?
How much of the Earth's water is stored on land?
25%
50%
Q4.__________ are the way water moves between the different stores within a cycle.
__________ are the way water moves between the different stores within a cycle.
Cycles
Condensation
