Learning Through Leadership: 7th Graders Teach Pre-K the Wonders of the Water Cycle

Some of the best learning happens when students take the lead. Recently, our seventh graders had a chance to do just that by teaching a lesson on the water cycle to our Pre-K students. As part of their Properties of Water unit in Oceanography, they worked in small groups to explain how water changes states—solid, liquid, and gas—and how it moves through the cycle of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.

The seventh graders taught their younger buddies a simple and fun water cycle song and helped them create a hands-on experiment called “Cloud in a Bag.” Each Pre-K student took home their own baggie to observe the water cycle in action. After adding water to the bag and hanging it in a sunny window, they’ll be able to watch water evaporate, condense on the sides of the bag, and eventually drip down like rain.

To wrap up our time together, we gathered for a read-aloud of Oh Say Can You Say What’s the Weather Today?, a Cat in the Hat book all about weather and the water cycle. It was a fun and fitting way to bring the lesson full circle and reinforce the big ideas we had just explored.

This activity was as valuable for the older students as it was for the younger ones. Teaching required them to think about science in a different way—one that made sense to early learners. It gave them practice explaining ideas clearly, built confidence, and allowed them to step into a leadership role. For our Pre-K students, learning from older peers made the experience even more engaging and fun. They were excited to ask questions, sing along, and explore big science ideas in a way that felt accessible.

Watching these students connect through learning was a highlight. It reminded all of us that science comes to life when students share, explore, and learn together.