Grab a printable Water Cycle Learning Pack here and then check out some of the water cycle activities and resources below! What is the Water Cycle? Earth's water is always in movement through a cycle known as the water cycle or the hydrologic cycle. This cycle includes water moving on the Earth's surface, below the Earth's surface, and in the atmosphere above the Earth. Water in Earth's oceans and other bodies of water is warmed by the sun, which causes some of the water molecules to vaporize into the air. Water molecules also vaporize from soil and plants- a process called transpiration. The water vapor rises into the air. As it gets higher, the air becomes cooler and causes the water molecules to condense into clouds. When clouds become saturated or filled with water droplets, the droplets fall from the sky as precipitation (rain, snow, sleet, etc...). Eventually the water from snow and rain makes its way back to the ocean or other bodies of water via runoff, creeks