Rainbows And The Earth's Water Cycle
The next time you see a rainbow gracing the horizon, take the opportunity to explain why they occur. A simple observation can turn into a seamless discussion about the earth's water cycle.
As you marvel at the colors in the rainbow -- Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo and Violet – tell your
child that rainbows appear because the sunlight shines through the tiny drops of water in the air after it rains.
This combination of elements causes a colorful rainbow to form. This may lead the kids to wonder where rain comes from.
The answer: Rain happens when the sun heats the water in rivers, lakes and oceans and it evaporates so it rises into tiny drops of gas that form clouds. The clouds become heavy and the drops fall from them. This causes rain.
The rain then fills up the rivers, lakes and oceans and the water cycle continues.
Content provided by Oakland University.
