Year 4 · Autumn 1.2 · Step 7

Earth & Space

The water cycle

How evaporation and condensation drive water's endless journey around our planet.

Arrival Starter I do We do Independent Exit ticket
🌱 Seedling · Working towards 🌿 Sapling · Expected 🌳 Oak · Greater depth

⏱ Whole lesson ≈ 44 min · pick a tier in the bar, or leave on "All"

Arrival 4 min

Recap of last lesson: the melting investigation.

Recap: melting results

🌱 Seedling
Working towards

Ice melts faster in ____ water.

🌿 Sapling
Expected
  1. What did we conclude?
  2. What is evaporation?
🌳 Oak
Greater depth

Where does a puddle go when it dries up in the sun?

Bridge into todayEvaporation and condensation power a huge journey that water makes around our planet — the water cycle.
Starter 5 min

Name the stages: evaporation, condensation, precipitation, collection.

Water's journey

The Sun heats water, which evaporates into vapour. High up it cools and condenses into clouds. It falls as precipitation (rain, snow, sleet, hail) and collects again. The same water is recycled — no new water is made.

🌱 Seedling
Working towards

Water rising as a gas is called ____.

🌿 Sapling
Expected

Name three stages of the water cycle.

🌳 Oak
Greater depth

How can we drink the same water the dinosaurs drank?

I do · 1 6 min

Teacher models. Watch, then trace the cycle.

The water cycle

▶ Can't see it? Watch "The water cycle for kids — evaporation, condensation, precipitation" on YouTube

Swap the clip: change the ID after /embed/ (now B77sebHmfdk).

Say thisThe Sun evaporates water from seas and rivers into vapour. It rises, cools and condenses into clouds. When the droplets are heavy enough they fall as precipitation, then collect and start again. Water does not have to boil to evaporate.
☀️
Evaporationliquid → gas
☁️
Condensationgas → cloud
🌧️
Precipitationrain/snow/hail
We do · 1 6 min

Label the stages on a diagram together.

Label the cycle

Sun heats the sea → water ____ → vapour cools and ____ → falls as ____ → collects → repeats

Fill the gaps
evaporates · condenses · precipitation. Precipitation includes rain, snow, sleet and hail.
I do · 2 4 min

Play the animation. Bust: the Sun soaks up water / clouds are a gas.

Round and round

condensation precipitation evaporation the same water, recycled again and again — no new water is made

The Sun evaporates water, it condenses into a cloud, then falls as rain — the same water, recycled.

Model the ideaThe Sun doesn't soak up water — its heat makes water evaporate into vapour. Clouds aren't a gas: they are billions of tiny liquid droplets. No new water is ever made; it just moves around.

Watch for: "the Sun absorbs the water" and "clouds are a gas".

We do · 2 5 min

Which stage? Sort examples together.

Which stage is it?

Decide together
"Water rising from the sea."   "A cloud forming."   "Rain falling."
Is each one evaporation, condensation or precipitation?
Independent 10 min

On your own. Sort each one, then write at your tier.

Water cycle sorter

☀️ Evaporation

☁️ Condensation

🌧️ Precipitation

Tap a card to sort it…

🌱 Seedling
Working towards

Sort the cards. Then finish: Water rising as a gas is called ____.

🌿 Sapling
Expected

Sort them, then describe the water cycle in three stages.

🌳 Oak
Greater depth

Sort them, then explain why no new water is ever made.

Exit ticket 4 min

Answer at your tier, then hand it in.

Show what you know

🌱 Seedling
Working towards
  • What is evaporation?
  • What is precipitation?
🌿 Sapling
Expected
  • Name the stages of the water cycle.
  • Are clouds a gas? Explain.
🌳 Oak
Greater depth

Explain how the same water can be recycled again and again.

TA Focus · The water cycle
Stages: evaporation (liquid→gas), condensation (gas→cloud), precipitation (rain/snow/sleet/hail), collection. For the sorter, ask 'is the water rising, forming a cloud, or falling?' Bust two myths: the Sun 'absorbs' water (it evaporates it) and clouds are a gas (they're tiny liquid droplets).
Cold Call · Question bank
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