Grade 6 · Science

6th grade The water cycle, powered by the Sun and pulled by gravity worksheet

6 printable versionsBuilding Confidence10 questions · answer keyFree · no account

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The water cycle, powered by the Sun and pulled by gravity

Grade 6 Science Worksheet - Building Confidence

NameDate

Circle the best answer.

1.
High in the sky, water vapor cools and forms the tiny drops of a cloud. Which process does Bo name?
- Evaporation
- Condensation
- Transpiration
- Runoff
2.
Drops in a cloud grow heavy and fall as rain on Kira's soccer game, which keeps going anyway. Which process is the falling rain?
- Evaporation
- Precipitation
- Infiltration
- Condensation
3.
Which energy source lifts ocean water into the air as invisible vapor, according to Jun's science book?
- Heat from Earth's core
- Gravity
- Wind alone
- The Sun's energy
4.
Drawing of a cloud dropping rain on one side and snow on the other, with downward arrows. What pulls rain and snow down from the clouds to the ground, by Luz's notes?
- The wind
- Evaporation pushing it
- Gravity
- The Sun's energy
5.
After a rainstorm, water flows downhill across a parking lot into a stream. What makes it flow downhill, says Milo?
- Gravity
- The Sun's energy
- Evaporation pushing it along
- The water's own heat
6.
Above Pia's mug of hot cocoa, a little white mist rises and fades. What is the white mist?
- Smoke from the hot cocoa
- Air that turned white from heat
- Invisible water vapor
- Tiny water drops formed as vapor cooled
7.
Which part of the water cycle can Ren NOT see, even on a bright, sunny day?
- Nothing; evaporated water is gone
- Fog
- Clouds
- Water vapor in the air
8.
On Tala's water-cycle diagram, an arrow runs from the ground surface down to the groundwater. Which process goes on that arrow?
- Infiltration
- Condensation
- Evaporation
- Runoff
9.
An arrow on Zee's diagram goes from a tree's leaves up into the air. Which process is it?
- Infiltration
- Transpiration
- Precipitation
- Condensation
10.
On a cold, sunny mountain, some snow turns straight into water vapor without melting first. Which arrow name fits, says Esme?
- Precipitation
- Condensation
- Melting
- Sublimation

6th grade The water cycle, powered by the Sun and pulled by gravity worksheet – printable — Print: 1 2 3 4 5 6

About this worksheet

The water cycle, powered by the Sun and pulled by gravity. Every version has 10 questions, and the answer key prints on the second page.

What your child will learn

I can name evaporation, transpiration, sublimation, condensation, precipitation, runoff and infiltration, and say what changes in each.
I can explain that the Sun's energy lifts water up as vapor and gravity brings it down.
I can explain everyday evidence (drops on a cold glass, dew, breath clouds, drying puddles) and trace one drop along many possible paths.

Standard: MS-ESS2-4

Words to know

water vapor: Water as an invisible gas in the air

evaporation: Liquid water turning into vapor

condensation: Vapor cooling and turning back into tiny liquid drops

precipitation: Rain, snow, sleet or hail falling from clouds

runoff / infiltration: Water flowing over the ground / water soaking into it

transpiration: Plants giving off water vapor through their leaves

sublimation: Ice turning straight into vapor without melting

Common mistakes

Your child thought clouds or mist are water vapor. Vapor is invisible; anything white you can see is tiny drops. Breathe on a cold window together and watch the drops form.

Your child mixed up what drives the water cycle. The Sun's energy lifts water up as vapor; gravity pulls rain and rivers down.

Your child mixed up evaporation and condensation. Evaporation turns liquid into invisible vapor; condensation turns vapor back into drops, as on a cold glass.

Questions parents ask

What is the most common mistake with the water cycle, powered by the sun and pulled by gravity?

Your child thought clouds or mist are water vapor. Vapor is invisible; anything white you can see is tiny drops. Breathe on a cold window together and watch the drops form.

Are these 6th grade science worksheets free to print?

Yes. All 6 printable versions at each level are free to print, with the answer key, and no account is needed.

More grade 6 science

See all grade 6 science

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