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Ignition Learning — Activity Sheet

The water cycle

Science · Year 7

Name: ______________________Date: ____________

Water moves around Earth in a continuous cycle. Heat from the Sun causes evaporation, water vapour cools and condenses into clouds, and precipitation returns water to land and oceans. Water can also soak into soil or flow across the ground.

Example

A puddle becomes smaller on a sunny day because liquid water evaporates into water vapour.

Key terms

Evaporation:
Liquid water changing into water vapour.
Condensation:
Water vapour cooling into liquid water.
Precipitation:
Water falling from clouds as rain, hail or snow.

Questions

  1. 1. This week, the key science idea is:

    • how water moves through the water cycle
    • memorising a definition without using evidence
    • choosing an answer before looking at observations
    • ignoring the conditions that affect a result
  2. 2. Which key term means “Liquid water changing into water vapour.”?

    • Evaporation
    • Condensation
    • Precipitation
    • Variable
  3. 3. Which key term means “Water vapour cooling into liquid water.”?

    • Condensation
    • Evaporation
    • Precipitation
    • Prediction
  4. 4. Which key term means “Water falling from clouds as rain, hail or snow.”?

    • Precipitation
    • Evaporation
    • Condensation
    • Conclusion
  5. 5. Which action best helps a student learn about the water cycle?

    • make a labelled water-cycle diagram using a local weather example
    • Copy an answer without checking it
    • Skip the observations
    • Use only a guess
  6. 6. Why is evidence important when studying the water cycle?

    • It helps us explain what is happening and check our ideas
    • It means we never need to observe carefully
    • It replaces all questions with guesses
    • It only matters after a test is finished
  7. 7. Which statement best connects to how water moves through the water cycle?

    • It is a useful focus for this science investigation.
    • It has nothing to do with science learning.
    • It means evidence is unnecessary.
    • It can only be studied in a laboratory.
  8. 8. A student records observations carefully while exploring the water cycle. What are they building?

    • Evidence they can use to explain a pattern
    • A reason to ignore the results
    • A way to avoid checking their method
    • A random conclusion
  9. 9. Which is the best scientific habit for the water cycle?

    • Notice details, record evidence and explain your reasoning
    • Change several things at once and guess
    • Use only the first result you see
    • Avoid comparing observations
  10. 10. If two observations appear different, what should a scientist do first?

    • Look for evidence and check what conditions were different
    • Choose the result they prefer
    • Delete both observations
    • Assume one must be wrong without checking
  11. 11. What makes the example in this lesson useful?

    • It links a real situation to the science idea
    • It avoids using any evidence
    • It proves every situation is identical
    • It replaces the need for careful thinking
  12. 12. Which response shows a student applying the water cycle rather than just repeating words?

    • make a labelled water-cycle diagram using a local weather example
    • Reciting the title only
    • Choosing the longest answer
    • Skipping the task
  13. 13. How can the key terms help when discussing the water cycle?

    • They make explanations clearer and more precise
    • They make observations unnecessary
    • They remove the need for examples
    • They are only useful in a spelling test
  14. 14. A claim about the water cycle should be strongest when it is:

    • Supported by observations or measurements
    • Based only on a guess
    • Copied without understanding
    • Unrelated to the investigation
  15. 15. Which is the fairest way to improve an investigation of the water cycle?

    • Keep a clear method and check results carefully
    • Change the question halfway through
    • Choose results before testing
    • Leave out inconvenient evidence
  16. 16. Why might another scientist repeat work about the water cycle?

    • To see whether the evidence and pattern hold up
    • To make the original evidence disappear
    • Because one result is always enough
    • To avoid recording data
  17. 17. A student has evidence that does not match their first idea. What is the best response?

    • Revise the explanation to fit the evidence
    • Ignore the evidence
    • Change the result to match the idea
    • Stop the investigation immediately
  18. 18. Which conclusion is most responsible after studying the water cycle?

    • A conclusion that explains what the evidence supports and notes limits
    • A conclusion that claims more than the evidence shows
    • A conclusion with no evidence
    • A conclusion based on a favourite answer
  19. 19. How does the water cycle connect to real life?

    • It can help people make observations and evidence-based choices
    • It has no possible application beyond a quiz
    • It means everyday evidence is never useful
    • It can only be discussed by experts
  20. 20. What is the best next step after completing this week’s investigation?

    • Explain what you found using the key terms and evidence
    • Forget the observations immediately
    • Assume every result will be the same
    • Avoid reflecting on the task
  21. 21. The most important outcome of this topic is to:

    • use evidence to understand how water moves through the water cycle
    • memorise unrelated facts
    • avoid asking questions
    • choose answers at random

Answer key (parent copy)

  1. 1. how water moves through the water cycle
  2. 2. Evaporation
  3. 3. Condensation
  4. 4. Precipitation
  5. 5. make a labelled water-cycle diagram using a local weather example
  6. 6. It helps us explain what is happening and check our ideas
  7. 7. It is a useful focus for this science investigation.
  8. 8. Evidence they can use to explain a pattern
  9. 9. Notice details, record evidence and explain your reasoning
  10. 10. Look for evidence and check what conditions were different
  11. 11. It links a real situation to the science idea
  12. 12. make a labelled water-cycle diagram using a local weather example
  13. 13. They make explanations clearer and more precise
  14. 14. Supported by observations or measurements
  15. 15. Keep a clear method and check results carefully
  16. 16. To see whether the evidence and pattern hold up
  17. 17. Revise the explanation to fit the evidence
  18. 18. A conclusion that explains what the evidence supports and notes limits
  19. 19. It can help people make observations and evidence-based choices
  20. 20. Explain what you found using the key terms and evidence
  21. 21. use evidence to understand how water moves through the water cycle