Year 4 · Autumn 1.2 · Step 9

Earth & Space

Investigate: the evaporation experiment

Carrying out the fair test and finding the link between temperature and evaporation.

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 evaporation plan.

Recap: the plan

🌱 Seedling

Working towards

We change the ____ of the place.

🌿 Sapling

Expected

What do we measure?
Name one thing we keep the same.

🌳 Oak

Greater depth

What did you predict, and why?

Bridge into todayNow we investigate: we set up the dishes, watch over time, and record how much water is left in each place.

Starter 5 min

Measure the temperature of each place; a small volume is easier to watch.

Carry out the test

Measure the temperature of each place and the starting water. Check the dishes over time and record how much water is left — a small amount of water lets you see the change more easily.

🌱 Seedling

Working towards

Which place do you think dries first?

🌿 Sapling

Expected

What is the temperature of each place?

🌳 Oak

Greater depth

Why use a small amount of water?

I do · 1 6 min

Teacher models careful recording. Watch to recall evaporation.

Watch and record

▶ Can't see it? Watch "Evaporation — water changing into vapour over time" on YouTube

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

Say thisRecord how much water is left in each dish over time. You could use words ("half gone") or a 1–5 scale. Look for the link: the warmer the place, the quicker the water evaporates.

🌡️

Place tempmeasure each

👀

Observewater left

📝

Recordover time

We do · 1 6 min

Compare the places and start a conclusion.

What do we notice?

Radiator: ____ left | Classroom: ____ left | Fridge: ____ left

Draw it together

The warmest place lost the most water. So higher temperature → faster evaporation.

I do · 2 4 min

Play the animation. Bust: evaporation only at 100°C / temperature doesn't matter.

Warm places dry fastest

On the warm radiator the water evaporates away over three days; in the fridge it stays full.

Model the ideaEvaporation happens at everyday temperatures, not just at boiling. The warmer the place, the faster the water evaporates — which is exactly what our dishes show.

Watch for: "evaporation only happens at 100°C" and "temperature makes no difference".

We do · 2 5 min

More or less evaporation? Sort together.

More or less?

Decide together

"On a warm radiator." "In the fridge." "On a sunny windowsill."

In which places does more water evaporate, and in which less?

Independent 10 min

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

Evaporation results sorter

🔥 More water evaporates

❄️ Less water evaporates

🚫 Myth to bust

Tap a card to sort it…

🌱 Seedling

Working towards

Sort the cards. Then finish: Warmer places evaporate water ____ (faster/slower).

🌿 Sapling

Expected

Sort them, then write a conclusion about temperature and evaporation.

🌳 Oak

Greater depth

Sort them, then explain why warmer places dry the water fastest.

Exit ticket 4 min

Answer at your tier, then hand it in.

Show what you know

🌱 Seedling

Working towards

Which place dried fastest?
Was your prediction right?

🌿 Sapling

Expected

Write a conclusion for the test.
Why use a small amount of water?

🌳 Oak

Greater depth

Explain the link between temperature and how fast water evaporates.