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Why does it rain?

The sun warms water in the sea, and whoosh, it floats up as invisible vapor.

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Pip’s answer

  1. The sun warms water in the sea, and whoosh, it floats up as invisible vapor.
  2. High in the cold sky, the vapor turns into tiny drops. That is a cloud, buddy!
  3. When the drops get big and heavy, pitter-pat, they fall down as rain!

Try it together

Can you wiggle your fingers like falling raindrops, buddy?

For grown-ups

The sun evaporates water from oceans, lakes and plants. As the water vapor rises it cools and condenses onto tiny particles of dust, forming cloud droplets. When droplets bump together and grow too heavy to stay aloft, they fall as rain. This loop is called the water cycle.

Ask your child: Where do you think the water in a puddle goes after the rain stops?

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