Learn how to draw a great looking Water Cycle with easy, step-by-step drawing instructions, and video tutorial.
By following the simple steps, you too can easily draw a perfect Water Cycle.
Jump to the step-by-step instructions.
Would you like to learn how to draw the water cycle? This easy, step-by-step drawing guide will show you how to sketch a cartoon of the water cycle for your next school report or science fair.
Scroll down for a downloadable PDF of this tutorial.
The water cycle is a truly amazing process that makes life on earth possible. How does it work? Consider the following steps and water cycle vocabulary.
- The sun warms water in the ocean. It turns into a vapor (a gas) and rises. This is called evaporation.
- Water vapor also rises from plants when they "breathe," taking in carbon dioxide (the waste product of our breathing or respiration) and giving off oxygen for use to breathe. This is called transpiration.
- Water vapor from the ocean and plants rises into the sky. It cools and sticks to tiny dust particles, eventually grouping into clouds. This is called condensation.
- As clouds get bigger, so do the droplets within them. When the drops get big and heavy enough, they fall to the ground as rain. This is called precipitation.
If you liked this tutorial, see also the following drawing guides: Rain, Space and Planets, and Cute Rainbow and Clouds.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Drawing the Water Cycle
How to Draw a Great Looking Water Cycle for Kids, Beginners, and Adults - Step 1
1. Begin the water cycle outline by drawing the basic geography. Use a wavy curved line for the tall mountain. Use another for the horizontal surface of the sea.
Easy Water Cycle Drawing - Step 2
2. Next, draw the winding river coursing down the mountain. Use two curved lines that run basically parallel to one another, converging high on the mountain. Bend the ends of the line to divide the water and the sea.
Easy Water Cycle Drawing - Step 3
3. Draw trees at the base of the mountain, erasing as necessary. Use long curved lines for the trunks, and shorter lines for the roots, branches, and leafy crowns.
Easy Water Cycle Drawing - Step 4
4. Texture the surface of the water. Draw "V" shaped waves on the surface of the ocean and curved lines of various lengths along the river and shore.
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Easy Water Cycle Drawing - Step 5
5. Next, draw the sun in the sky. Use a curved line to enclose the partial circle shape, with long and short straight lines extending from it to form the rays. Draw squiggly curved lines above the surface of the sea. This is the water vapor that is evaporating.
Easy Water Cycle Drawing - Step 6
6. Draw two clouds in the sky, one above the sea and the other above the mountain.
Easy Water Cycle Drawing - Step 7
7. Draw short, straight lines between the cloud and the mountain, indicating rain. Then, begin to label your water cycle cartoon. Draw a downward pointing arrow alongside the rain.
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Add More Details to Your Water Cycle Picture - Step 8
8. Draw more arrows. Draw an upturned arrow within the water vapor, another above the trees, and a sideways arrow between the two clouds. These arrows will help direct your eyes in the direction that the water travels in its cycle.
Complete the Outline of Your Water Cycle Drawing - Step 9
9. Complete your water cycle outline by labeling each part with words. Write "Evaporation" near the squiggly water vapor; "Transpiration" above the trees; "Condensation" near the clouds; and "Precipitation" by the rainstorm.
Color Your Water Cycle Drawing
Color your cartoon of the amazing water cycle. Use greens for the transpiring plants and blues for the river and sea. You can get creative with your dazzling sun, fluffy white clouds, and dark storm clouds.
If you enjoyed this water cycle outline, check out more of our teacher-approved homework helpers, including:
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Water Cycle Drawing Tutorial - Easy & Fun Printable Pages
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