Back to the lesson plan builder
Lesson length30 min45 min60 min
Questions🔀 New questions

Print the plan for yourself; the student sheet prints on its own page after it.

Science lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 30 minutes

The water cycle

States of matter

CCSS NGSS.MS-ESS2-4CCSS NGSS.5-ESS2-1England: KS2 Y4 States of matter

Objective and success criteria

Students will: The water cycle.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Melting, freezing, evaporating and condensing

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: Ice, water and a kettle (teacher demo), Particle diagrams, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • 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: a bathroom mirror steaming up? (melting / freezing / evaporating / condensing) → condensingPrompt: What state does it start in, and what state does it end in?
  2. What is the name for a change from gas to liquid? (melting / freezing / condensing / evaporating (or boiling)) → condensingPrompt: Heating makes solids melt and liquids evaporate.
  3. Changes of state: which statement is true? (Water only evaporates when it boils. / Melting makes a substance lose mass. / The water on the outside of a cold can leaks through the metal. / Water evaporates faster on a warm, windy day.) → Water evaporates faster on a warm, windy day.Prompt: Where does the water on a cold can come from?

Hook · 3 min

  • 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.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • 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.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • 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 "evaporation"? (precipitation / condensation / collection) → condensationPrompt: Think about water going up, cooling, falling and gathering.
  2. In the water cycle (key words), what comes straight after "condensation"? (precipitation / evaporation / collection) → precipitationPrompt: Think about water going up, cooling, falling and gathering.

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • 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.

Exit ticket · 3 min

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

Watch out for

  • Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
  • Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Melting, freezing, evaporating and condensing.
  • Use concrete materials: ice, water and a kettle (teacher demo).
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

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

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

eurekami

The water cycle

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    In the water cycle (key words), what comes straight after "evaporation"?

    • A. condensation
    • B. precipitation
    • C. collection

  2. Question 2

    Which stage of the water cycle is ringed on the diagram?

    • A. evaporation
    • B. condensation
    • C. precipitation
    • D. collection

  3. Question 3

    In the water cycle (key words), what comes straight after "precipitation"?

    • A. condensation
    • B. evaporation
    • C. collection

  4. Question 4

    In the water cycle, what comes straight after "water evaporates into water vapour"?

    • A. water collects in rivers, lakes and the sea
    • B. water vapour cools and condenses into clouds
    • C. rain or snow falls (precipitation)
    • D. the Sun heats water in the sea

  5. Question 5

    In the water cycle, what comes straight after "rain or snow falls (precipitation)"?

    • A. water vapour cools and condenses into clouds
    • B. water collects in rivers, lakes and the sea
    • C. water evaporates into water vapour
    • D. the Sun heats water in the sea

  6. Question 6

    In the water cycle (key words), what comes straight after "condensation"?

    • A. collection
    • B. precipitation
    • C. evaporation

Free from eurekami.com

for the adult only

Answer key: The water cycle

  1. 1. A. condensation

  2. 2. D. collection

  3. 3. C. collection

  4. 4. B. water vapour cools and condenses into clouds

  5. 5. B. water collects in rivers, lakes and the sea

  6. 6. B. precipitation