Where does the rain go?

Build a water cycle in a bottle

Have you ever wondered what happens to the water that falls out of the sky as rain? After it has been raining, the ground and everything else outdoors is wet. But it doesn't stay wet for long. So where does the water go?

Here's an easy experiment to get you thinking about this question.

You will need: 

• a transparent bottle with a lid (a jam jar works, too)
• a jug of water
• a pen (we used a Sharpie)
• blue food colouring, if you have it.

 Start by drawing on your bottle. Put clouds and the sun at the top of the bottle. This is the sky.

 Draw a wiggly line a few centimetres from the bottom of the bottle. This is the land. You can add some trees, too.

Next, you will need a quarter to a half a cup of water. Add a little food colouring to turn the water blue. This makes it easier to see.

Now it's time to pour the blue water into your bottle.

Finally, screw on the lid tightly and place the bottle in a sunny place, such as a window sill.

Keep an eye on your bottle through the day. 

• What can you see towards the top of your bottle?
• Why is this happening?
• What can this tell us about how rain works?
• What other ideas and wonderings do you have about this experiment?