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Why Do Puddles Shrink?

Activity

Discover the Water Cycle in Action

Water is always moving, even when we don’t see it! Leave a cup of water outside in a sunny spot and check on it throughout the day. What happens to the water level? If there’s a puddle after it rains, observe how it changes over time—does it shrink? Where does the water go? Think about how the sun, air, and ground all play a part in moving water through the environment.

Science Seed

Water moves through a continuous cycle that connects the land, sky, and waterways like Shoal Creek. Heat from the sun causes water in lakes, rivers, and even puddles to evaporate into the air, turning into water vapor. This vapor rises and cools, forming clouds in a process called condensation. Eventually, the water falls back to the ground as precipitation—rain, snow, or even mist. Some of this water soaks into the ground and becomes groundwater, which moves through soil and can eventually flow back into creeks. Other water runs over the land, following gravity downhill and collecting in streams like Shoal Creek. The next time you see a puddle drying up or fog in the morning, you’re witnessing the water cycle in action! Every drop of water has been traveling through this cycle for millions of years—some of the water in Shoal Creek may have once been part of a glacier, an ocean, or even a cloud halfway across the world.

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earn Badges

Badges can be earned through hands-on experiences within each of the 16 branches of science, or “Science Slices.” You can earn a badge in each branch of science by doing four activities in these categories. We also encourage participants to keep a Nature Journal to record their memories, and to express themselves creatively through writing or drawing after each activity. We recommend that each child (and parent if they’d like) write or draw in a journal after each activity, with expectations of your children that match their age (the goal is self-expression, not perfection).

Explore Pease Park Conservancy

The Ecologist School Pocket Guide: Pease Park Edition is a collaboration between Families in Nature and Pease Park Conservancy as an effort to help our community learn more about the ecosystem and history of Pease Park, while getting outside into nature together! This booklet has 64 lessons across 16 different branches of science to help you play, learn and volunteer in the park as a family!

Each branch of science corresponds with a matching badge featured in the top right corner of every activity. Complete all 4 activities in a science slice and you are eligible to earn that badge.

Circle of Sciences

Our hands-on activities span across 16 different branches of science! Each Science Slice is broken into 8 learning categories: S.T.E.A.M., Volunteerism, Outdoor Skills and Leadership Development. Our activities are designed to be enjoyed by all ages.

join Families in Nature

It is our vision to inspire all families to fall in love with nature and foster the next generation of conservationists. Becoming a member of Families in Nature will give your family the opportunity to have adventures in nature, experience field science, develop as youth conservation leaders, and make memories that will last a lifetime. Memberships are free for everyone.

Who are we?

Families in Nature works to create opportunities for nature connection with the purpose of sparking a deep love and desire to protect, conserve and restore the environment. Our mission is to connect children and their families to nature and to each other through time spent learning, playing, and volunteering outdoors. It is our vision to inspire ALL families to fall in love with nature and foster the next generation of conservationists.

Pease Park Conservancy works in partnership with the City of Austin to set the standard for the principles of world-class park management – emphasizing environmental excellence – to improve the quality of this treasured green space for the enjoyment of all.

Our mission celebrates the diverse ecology and history that make Austin’s first public park valuable and unique. The Conservancy works to restore, enhance and maintain this 84-acre public green space for the sustainable use and enjoyment of all.