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The Water Cycle

CONCEPTUAL
Science›Ecosystems & Habitats|Ages 11—12|ID: mt_V2lNzEex_a

Describe the water cycle, tracing water through evaporation, condensation, precipitation, surface runoff, and transpiration in plants, explaining how the sun drives the cycle

Mastery Evidence

  • Labels a water cycle diagram correctly
  • Explains what drives each stage of the water cycle (e.g. solar energy drives evaporation)
  • Explains the role of transpiration (plants releasing water vapour) in the water cycle
  • Discusses how human activities (deforestation, paving) affect the water cycle

Assessment Prompt

“If [child] watched rain falling outside and was asked where that water had been before it fell, could they trace its journey through the water cycle from the sea to the clouds to the rain and back?”

Curriculum Standards1 alignment

KS3.Sci.Bio.Ecosystem.5The national curriculum in England
The water cycle

the water cycle

Science · KS3

Prerequisites2

Show full prerequisite tree
  • The Water Cycle soft

    The exploratory weather/climate water cycle topic provides an accessible entry point before the formal KS3 treatment

    • 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

  • Evaporation & the Water Cycle hard

    The KS3 water cycle (including transpiration and surface runoff) builds directly on KS2 understanding of evaporation and condensation

    • 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

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