Year 4 - Science
Evaporation and condensation in the water cycle
Introduction to states of matter and changing states
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit explores the properties of solids, liquids, and gases, and how materials change state when heated or cooled. It covers evaporation, condensation, and the water cycle, with a focus on practical enquiries, careful observations, accurate measurements, and presenting findings.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to identify the part played by evaporation and condensation in the water cycle.
Key Notes
- Water doesn't leave Earth's atmosphere. It moves around in what is called the water cycle.
- Water evaporates from sources such as seas and rivers, as well as from Earth's surface.
- As it moves through the water cycle, water can be in the liquid state, gas state (water vapour), or solid state (ice).
- Water vapour rises into the atmosphere then cools and condenses into clouds.
- Water falls to the surface as precipitation (rain, snow, sleet) to continue the process.
Vocabulary To Learn
- evaporation: Evaporation is the change of state from a liquid to a gas.
- water vapour: Water is called water vapour when it is in the gas state.
- water cycle: The water cycle is the name of the journey water takes as it moves from the sea or land to the atmosphere and back again.
- condensation: Condensation is the change of state from a gas to a liquid.
- precipitation: Precipitation is water, in the solid or liquid state, which falls from the atmosphere to Earth's surface.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils may think that the water cycle only takes place when it is hot or sunny; that when water evaporates, it disappears or that precipitation only refers to rain; water in its liquid form.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.
Water doesn't leave Earth's atmosphere. It moves around in what is called the water cycle. Water evaporates from sources such as seas and rivers, as well as from Earth's surface.
2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'evaporation'
Evaporation is the change of state from a liquid to a gas. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.
3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.
Mistake: Pupils may think that the water cycle only takes place when it is hot or sunny; that when water evaporates, it disappears or that precipitation only refers to rain; water in its liquid form. Correction: Teaching slides explain the process of the water cycle including the different forms of precipitation. The practical task addresses the misconception that the water cycle only takes place in hot or sunny weather.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Changing state: gas to liquid Study Guide
- Changing state: liquid to gas Study Guide
- Changing state: liquid to solid Study Guide
- Changing state: solid to liquid Study Guide
- Comparing and grouping solids, liquids and gases Study Guide
- Everyday examples of changing state: solids and liquids (non-statutory) Study Guide
- Everyday examples of evaporation and condensation (non-statutory) Study Guide
- Melting ice caps and glaciers (non statutory - Climate Change & Sustainability) Study Guide
- Melting temperatures: do and review Study Guide
- Melting temperatures: plan Study Guide
- Melting temperatures: research Study Guide
- Properties of solids, liquids and gases Study Guide
- Temperature and evaporation: do and review Study Guide
- Temperature and evaporation: plan Study Guide
- Thermometers and data loggers Study Guide
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