• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Melting, freezing, evaporating and condensing). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
• Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

1. Which change of state is this: wet washing drying on a line? (melting / freezing / evaporating / condensing) → evaporatingPrompt: What state does it start in, and what state does it end in?
2. What is the name for a change from solid to liquid? (evaporating (or boiling) / condensing / melting / freezing) → meltingPrompt: Heating makes solids melt and liquids evaporate.
3. Changes of state: which statement is true? (Water only evaporates when it boils. / Steam (water vapour) is invisible; the white cloud above a kettle is tiny water droplets. / The water on the outside of a cold can leaks through the metal. / Melting makes a substance lose mass.) → Steam (water vapour) is invisible; the white cloud above a kettle is tiny water droplets.Prompt: Where does the water on a cold can come from?

• Show an ice cube melting and a kettle steaming and ask what is the same and what is different.
• Share the objective: The water cycle. Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: In the water cycle (key words), what comes straight after "evaporation"?
• Step 1: evaporation → condensation → precipitation → collection
• Step 2: So the answer is: condensation
• Answer: condensation
• Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

• Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
• Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.

1. In the water cycle (key words), what comes straight after "precipitation"? (condensation / collection / evaporation) → collectionPrompt: Think about water going up, cooling, falling and gathering.
2. In the water cycle, what comes straight after "water vapour cools and condenses into clouds"? (the Sun heats water in the sea / water evaporates into water vapour / water collects in rivers, lakes and the sea / rain or snow falls (precipitation)) → rain or snow falls (precipitation)Prompt: It starts with energy from the Sun.

• Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
• Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

• Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.

1. In the water cycle (key words), what comes straight after "evaporation"? (condensation / collection / precipitation) → condensationPrompt: Think about water going up, cooling, falling and gathering.
2. In the water cycle, what comes straight after "the Sun heats water in the sea"? (water vapour cools and condenses into clouds / rain or snow falls (precipitation) / water evaporates into water vapour / water collects in rivers, lakes and the sea) → water evaporates into water vapourPrompt: It starts with energy from the Sun.

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-3.