Water Cycle Double Take Worksheet
Dual-Language Science Reader
Water Cycle Double Take
El ciclo del agua: Lectura comparativa
Bilingual / Bilingüe
Student / Estudiante
Date / Fecha
Class / Clase
Active Reading Instructions / Instrucciones de lectura activa
Read each scientific paragraph below. Compare the English and Spanish texts side-by-side. Look for words that look and sound similar in both languages (cognates), and note how sentence structure changes.
Lee cada párrafo científico. Compara los textos en inglés y español lado a lado. Busca palabras que se parezcan (cognados) y observa cómo cambia la estructura de las oraciones.
English English Passage
Español Pasaje en español
Introduction
Earth's water is always on the move. The water cycle is the continuous movement of water from the Earth's surface to the atmosphere and back again. Powered by the sun, this process sustains all life on our planet.
Introducción
El agua de la Tierra siempre está en movimiento. El ciclo del agua es el movimiento continuo del agua desde la superficie terrestre hacia la atmósfera y de regreso. Impulsado por el sol, este proceso sostiene toda la vida en nuestro planeta.
1. Evaporation
The cycle begins when solar energy heats liquid water in oceans, lakes, and rivers. This heat causes the liquid water to transform into water vapor, an invisible gas. The light gas rises up into the warm air.
1. Evaporación
El ciclo comienza cuando la energía solar calienta el agua líquida en océanos, lagos y ríos. Este calor hace que el agua líquida se transforme en vapor de agua, un gas invisible. El gas ligero se eleva hacia el aire cálido.
2. Condensation
As water vapor rises, it encounters cooler air high in the atmosphere. The vapor cools down and changes back into tiny liquid water droplets. These droplets cluster together to form clouds and fog.
2. Condensación
A medida que el vapor de agua se eleva, encuentra aire más frío a gran altura en la atmósfera. El vapor se enfría y vuelve a convertirse en diminutas gotas de agua líquida. Estas gotas se agrupan para formar nubes y niebla.
Unit: Water Systems & Bilingual Literacy Page 1 / Página 1 Double Take Reading Series
Water Cycle Double Take / El ciclo del agua Part 2 / Parte 2
3. Precipitation
When cloud droplets become too heavy and dense, gravity pulls them down. This water falls as liquid rain, or frozen snow, sleet, and hail. It restores fresh water to the land and seas.
3. Precipitación
Cuando las gotas de las nubes se vuelven demasiado pesadas y densas, la gravedad las atrae hacia abajo. Esta agua cae como lluvia líquida, o nieve congelada, aguanieve y granizo. Restaura el agua dulce a la tierra y mares.
4. Collection
Water falling to Earth is collected in oceans, lakes, and rivers, or absorbed as groundwater. Eventually, this water is heated by the sun again, continuing the cycle forever.
4. Recolección
El agua que cae a la Tierra se recolecta en océanos, lagos y ríos, o se absorbe como agua subterránea. Con el tiempo, esta agua vuelve a ser calentada por el sol, continuando el ciclo para siempre.
Bilingual Cognates / Cognados
| English | Español |
|---|
| Atmosphere | Atmósfera |
| Condensation | Condensación |
| Solar energy | Energía solar |
| Liquid | Líquido |
Grammar Spot / Foco Gramatical
Noun-Adjective Order: In English, adjectives come before nouns (e.g., solar energy). In Spanish, adjectives come after nouns (e.g., energía solar).
Your Turn / Tu Turno:
Find or build another example of noun-adjective switch from the reading!
English
Español
Comparative Comprehension / Comprensión Comparativa
1. What power source drives the whole water cycle? Identify the terms used for it in both languages. ¿Qué fuente de energía impulsa todo el ciclo del agua? Identifica los términos utilizados para esto en ambos idiomas.
2. Translate this idea using clues from the text: "The warm vapor rises into clouds." Traduce esta idea usando pistas del texto: "El vapor cálido se eleva hacia las nubes."
Unit: Water Systems & Bilingual Literacy Page 2 / Página 2 Double Take Reading Series
Water Cycle Double Take Teacher Guide
Teacher-Facing Support Resource
Water Cycle Double Take Teacher Guide
Guía del maestro: El ciclo del agua con lectura comparativa
Instructional Guide
Target Grade Grades 3–5 / Primaria
Program Model Dual Language / Immersion
Time Needed 45–60 Minutes
Focus Science & Linguistics
Science Objectives (Ciencia)
- Identify the four major stages of the water cycle: evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection.
- Understand the role of the sun as the primary driver of water movement in the atmosphere.
Language Objectives (Lenguaje)
- Identify scientific cognates between English and Spanish.
- Contrast sentence-level grammar structures, specifically the placement of nouns and adjectives.
Pacing Plan & Facilitation Guide
1
Bilingual Activation / Activación (10 mins)
Project the term "The Water Cycle / El ciclo del agua" on the board. Have students turn-and-talk in their preferred language about what they notice about the words. Introduce the concept of cognates (words with shared Latin/Greek origins) and demonstrate how Spanish and English often share roots.
2
Comparative Reading / Lectura Comparativa (20 mins)
Group students in bilingual pairs (one stronger English speaker and one stronger Spanish speaker). Have them read the text on Page 1 & 2. Instruct them to tag-team the paragraphs: Student A reads the English paragraph, and Student B reads the parallel Spanish paragraph. Encourage them to highlight words that look identical or nearly identical.
3
Word Detective & Grammar Spotlight (15 mins)
Guide students to complete the "Bilingual Word Detectives" section. Highlight the noun-adjective switch (order of descriptive words). Review how English puts descriptions first (e.g., liquid water) while Spanish places them second (agua líquida). Let them search for another example together.
4
Dual-Language Synthesis & Debrief (10 mins)
Collect answers from the Comprehension Questions. Discuss their responses as a class. Allow students to respond in English, Spanish, or a combination of both (translanguaging). Emphasize that bilingualism means using all linguistic tools to make meaning of scientific concepts.
Unit: Water Systems & Bilingual Literacy Page 1 / Página 1 Double Take Reading Series
Water Cycle Double Take / Guía Docente Key & Pedagogy / Respuestas
Teacher Tool: Translanguaging Pedagogy
