Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - JHS 1
EARTH SCIENCE
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EARTH SCIENCE
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Subject: Science
Class: JHS 1
Term: 1st Term
Week: 7
Grade code: B7.2.1.1.2
Strand code: 2
Sub-strand code: 1
Content standard code: B7.2.1.1
Indicator code: B7.2.1.1.2
Theme: CYCLES
Subtheme: EARTH SCIENCE
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Water is always moving around the Earth in a continuous cycle—evaporating from rivers, lakes and the sea, forming clouds, falling as rain, and soaking into the ground or flowing back to water bodies. In Ghana, the water cycle affects rainfall for farming, availability of clean water, flooding, drought, and even how hot or cool the environment feels. Understanding its importance helps learners make sense of everyday issues like dry-season water shortages, harmattan weather, and why we must protect water sources from pollution.
A. What is the Water Cycle? Water cycle is the continuous movement of water between the Earth’s surface and the atmosphere. It is driven mainly by: The Sun’s energy (causes evaporation) Gravity (causes rainfall to fall and water to flow downhill) B. Stages of the Water Cycle (Quick Review) Even though the indicator focuses on *importance*, learners understand importance better when they remember the stages. Evaporation The Sun heats water in rivers, lakes, dams, puddles and the sea. Water changes from liquid to gas (water vapour). Example: After rain in Accra, puddles disappear by afternoon due to evaporation. Transpiration Plants release water vapour from their leaves. Together, evaporation + transpiration is called evapotranspiration. Example: Cocoa farms in Ashanti and Western Regions release moisture into the air. Condensation Water vapour rises, cools, and changes back into tiny water droplets. These droplets form clouds. Example: Early morning clouds over the Volta Lake. Precipitation When droplets in clouds become heavy, water falls as rain, or sometimes hail in rare cases. Example: Heavy rainfall in the rainy season in Cape Coast. Runoff Water flows over the land into streams, rivers, lakes and the sea. Example: Rainwater running into gutters and streams during storms in Kumasi. Infiltration and Percolation Infiltration: water soaks into the soil. Percolation: water moves deeper into the ground to form groundwater. Example: Boreholes in many communities depend on groundwater formed this way.
C. Importance of the Water Cycle (Indicator Focus) 1) Energy Source: Release of Energy to Warm the Environment When water vapour condenses to form clouds, it releases latent heat (stored heat energy). This released heat warms the surrounding air, helping to drive winds and storms. Why it matters in Ghana: Condensation over the Gulf of Guinea and inland areas contributes to cloud formation and rainfall systems that affect Ghana’s climate. It influences how warm or cool a day feels, especially during cloudy/rainy periods.
Simple explanation: Evaporation “stores” heat in water vapour; condensation “returns” that heat to the atmosphere.
2) Carrier of Nutrients Water dissolves and carries nutrients and minerals. In nature, rainwater and flowing water transport nutrients: from soil to plant roots from decomposed organic matter into the ground along rivers to support aquatic life