Water cycle in a bowl

Water cycle experiment

Our rain originally came from oceans, seas and lakes. It became clouds and eventually fell on us as rain.

What you will need:

  • A large bowl
  • A small yogurt pot or plastic cup
  • Clingfilm
  • Water
  • Small weight or a few coins
  • Sunny window sill

What to do:

  1. Take the large bowl and fill it with several centimetres of water.
  2. Place your small pot in the centre of the bowl of water, making sure not to get any water inside it.
  3. Cover the large bowl with clingfilm and fasten this down securely to the side of the bowl.
  4. Put a weight on top of the clingfilm, over the centre of the small pot to push the clingfilm down into it slightly.
  5. Place your experiment on a warm sunny window sill and leave for a few days.
  6. You should find that the heat of the sun evaporates the water, which rises, condenses on the cool plastic, and falls into the small container. This is a small version of what happens in the real water cycle.

Last updated: 23 March 2015