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Evaporation & the Water Cycle

CONCEPTUAL
Science›Matter & Materials|Ages 8—9|ID: mt_Qkewo5M3_c

Identify the role of evaporation and condensation in the water cycle, and associate the rate of evaporation with temperature

Mastery Evidence

  • Describe evaporation as liquid turning to gas and condensation as gas turning to liquid
  • Explain the water cycle: evaporation from seas/lakes → condensation into clouds → precipitation
  • Explain why evaporation happens faster at higher temperatures (e.g. puddles dry faster on hot days)

Assessment Prompt

“Can [child] explain why puddles disappear on a sunny day and where the water goes, and why the bathroom mirror steams up after a hot shower?”

Curriculum Standards1 alignment

Y4.Sci.SM.3The national curriculum in England
Evaporation, condensation and the water cycle

identify the part played by evaporation and condensation in the water cycle and associate the rate of evaporation with temperature

Science · Key Stage 2

Prerequisites3

Show full prerequisite tree
  • Changes & Separation Vocabulary hard

    Identifying the role of evaporation and condensation requires knowing these process terms precisely

  • The Water Cycle soft

    Water cycle connects to curriculum evaporation/condensation topic

    • Cloud Types hard

      Water cycle requires understanding cloud formation (condensation)

      • Rain & Puddles hard

        Cloud types build on knowing rain comes from clouds

        • Types of Weather soft

          Rain concept benefits from knowing rain as a weather type

    • Where water is found on Earth soft

      Water cycle benefits from knowing where water is found on Earth

      • Shapes of land and water hard

        Must know land and water features before learning where water is found on Earth

        • Seasonal changes soft

          Seasonal observation supports understanding land and water features

      • Heating & Cooling Changes soft

        Understanding state changes supports knowing water as solid (ice) and liquid

        • States of Matter Vocabulary hard

          Describing and measuring changes of state requires solid/liquid/gas vocabulary and the term 'change of state'

        • Drawing Particle Diagrams hard

          Observing and describing change of state requires reading particle diagrams showing how arrangement changes on heating or cooling

    • Heating & Cooling Changes soft

      Water cycle benefits from curriculum states of matter (heating/cooling changes state)

      • States of Matter Vocabulary hard

        Describing and measuring changes of state requires solid/liquid/gas vocabulary and the term 'change of state'

      • Drawing Particle Diagrams hard

        Observing and describing change of state requires reading particle diagrams showing how arrangement changes on heating or cooling

    • Temperature & Thermometers soft

      Water cycle evaporation relates to temperature (heat drives evaporation)

    • Rain & Puddles hard

      Full water cycle builds on basic rain/puddle/evaporation concept

      • Types of Weather soft

        Rain concept benefits from knowing rain as a weather type

  • Heating & Cooling Changes hard

    Must understand state changes before learning about evaporation/condensation in water cycle

    • States of Matter Vocabulary hard

      Describing and measuring changes of state requires solid/liquid/gas vocabulary and the term 'change of state'

    • Drawing Particle Diagrams hard

      Observing and describing change of state requires reading particle diagrams showing how arrangement changes on heating or cooling

Unlocks3