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Year 10
AQA
Foundation

Material cycles: the water cycle

I can describe the processes in the water cycle.

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New
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Year 10
AQA
Foundation

Material cycles: the water cycle

I can describe the processes in the water cycle.

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Share activities with pupils
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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The water cycle shows how water is recycled on planet Earth.
  2. Water is continuously being evaporated and precipitated.
  3. Plants lose water through transpiration.
  4. Water availability impacts upon a species' ability to survive in a habitat.

Keywords

  • Evaporation - Evaporation is the process of changing a substance from a liquid to a gas.

  • Condensation - Condensation is the change of state from a gas to a liquid.

  • Transpiration - Transpiration is the loss of water vapour through the leaves of plants (through stomata).

  • Precipitation - Precipitation is water that falls from clouds in the form of rain, sleet, snow or hail.

Common misconception

The water cycle only includes the processes of evaporation from the Earth's surface to the atmosphere and condensation returning water to the Earth.

There is exemplification of how the water cycle involves percolation of water into the ground and how plants use this water. Some of this is released by transpiration.


To help you plan your year 10 biology lesson on: Material cycles: the water cycle, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Pupils can be shown a diagram of the water cycle and asked where the water that they drink comes from. This can generate a discussion about how we get the water that we use in our daily lives.
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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following organisms are decomposers?
Correct answer: earthworm
leopard
butterfly
bat
Correct answer: dung beetle
Q2.
Carbon dioxide is an important part of which of the following cycles?
water cycle
nutrient cycle
life cycle
Correct answer: carbon cycle
Q3.
How is carbon returned to the atmosphere in the carbon cycle?
Correct answer: combustion
Correct answer: respiration
photosynthesis
decomposition
Q4.
Plants take in carbon dioxide from the air. They use this for .
Correct Answer: photosynthesis
Q5.
Why are decomposers important in a stable ecosystem?
They return nutrients to the atmosphere.
Correct answer: They break down dead organisms and waste material.
They cause organisms to die.
Q6.
Which of the following statements about the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is correct?
The carbon dioxide levels are decreasing as plants are photosynthesising more.
Correct answer: The carbon dioxide levels are increasing as we are burning more fossil fuels.
The carbon dioxide levels are increasing as all organisms are respiring less.
Correct answer: The carbon dioxide levels are increasing due to deforestation.
The carbon dioxide levels are decreasing as the oceans absorb it all.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
The heat from the sun causes water to turn into water vapour (a gas). This process is called ...
condensation.
Correct answer: evaporation.
precipitation.
transpiration.
percolation.
Q2.
The process of water vapour cooling and turning back to a liquid is called ...
Correct answer: condensation.
evaporation.
precipitation.
transpiration.
percolation.
Q3.
When water droplets combine in clouds they get heavier. When they are too heavy they fall to Earth. Water falling to Earth is called ...
condensation.
evaporation.
Correct answer: precipitation.
transpiration.
percolation.
Q4.
Transpiration takes place when water vapour leaves a plant through the ...
roots.
Correct answer: leaves.
stem.
flowers.
Q5.
Starting from water being turned into water vapour by the heat of the sun, put the processes in the order that they occur in the water cycle.
1 - evaporation
2 - condensation
3 - precipitation
4 - percolation
Q6.
Which of the following is not a reason why water is important for life?
Chemical reactions inside cells need water.
Damp surfaces allows diffusion of gases to take place.
It transports materials around organisms.
Correct answer: It is essential for keeping organisms clean.
It provides structural support to plants.