Rainforest Water Cycle

Science · Rainforests · ages 7-9

Name ______________________ Date ____________

Rainforest trees release water into the air through their leaves.
Circle one: True False
What is the word for water leaving a plant through its leaves?
- Transpiration
- Evaporation
- Absorption
Follow the water through a rainforest tree. Which step comes first?
- Clouds form above the trees
- Roots absorb water from the soil
- Rain falls onto the leaves
Rainforests only get rain from clouds that blow in from the ocean.
Circle one: True False
After tree roots absorb water, what happens next in the cycle?
- The water turns straight into rain
- The water sinks deeper into the soil
- The water rises as vapor from the leaves
Why do scientists say a rainforest "makes its own rain"?
- Because vapor from trees forms clouds
- Because it never rains anywhere else nearby
- Because the ocean sends clouds every day
One dry season, a large area of rainforest is cut down. What is most likely to happen to rainfall in that region?
- Rainfall increases because there is more open sky
- Rainfall stays exactly the same either way
- Rainfall drops with fewer trees
Zara says trees only take in water and never let any go. What is she getting wrong about transpiration?
- Transpiration means trees absorb water only
- Trees release vapor through leaves
- Trees only release water once a year

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

True · Trees pull water up from their roots and let it out through their leaves as vapor.
Transpiration · That process is called transpiration. It happens when water moves out through tiny holes in the leaves.
Roots absorb water from the soil · The water's journey through the tree starts underground, when roots soak up water from the soil.
False · Rainforests make a large part of their own rain. Trees release so much water vapor that new clouds form right above the forest.
The water rises as vapor from the leaves · The water travels up through the tree and leaves as vapor, well before it ever becomes rain.
Because vapor from trees forms clouds · Billions of trees releasing vapor add up to enough moisture to build fresh clouds right over the forest.
Rainfall drops with fewer trees · Fewer trees means less transpiration, so fewer clouds form above the forest and rainfall can drop.
Trees release vapor through leaves · Transpiration is the release of water vapor from leaves. Trees are always both taking in water and giving it back out.