Third Grade
Worksheets
Runoff
When it rains, many things can happen to the water. Water may evaporate. It becomes a cloud. It may sink into the ground. It becomes part of Earth's groundwater. It may be used by plants. It may be a drink for animals or people. About forty percent of rain becomes runoff.
Runoff is water that does not soak into the soil. It runs off the land. It flows into Earth's surface waters: streams, rivers, and oceans. When rain falls on the ground, some of it soaks into the soil. When more rain falls than can soak in, it runs off the ground. It flows down a hill or slope. It runs into streams or rivers. It may end up in the ocean.
