Temperature and evaporation: plan
I can plan how to investigate how temperature affects the rate of evaporation.
Temperature and evaporation: plan
I can plan how to investigate how temperature affects the rate of evaporation.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Evaporation can take place at any temperature.
- Scientists investigate how temperature affects how quickly a liquid evaporates to a gas.
- A fair test investigation involves controlling variables so that only one thing is changed.
Keywords
Evaporation - To evaporate is to change from a liquid to a gas.
Temperature - Temperature is a measure of how hot or cold something is.
Affect - To affect something is to influence or change it.
Variables - Variables are the things that can be changed, measured or kept the same in a comparative or fair test.
Common misconception
Children may believe that water cannot exist in a gas state because they cannot see it. They may also think that evaporation only occurs at high temperatures.
Teaching slides explain the existence of water vapour, even though it is invisible. By investigation, children observe and measure that evaporation occurs at all temperatures.
To help you plan your year 4 science lesson on: Temperature and evaporation: plan, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 4 science lesson on: Temperature and evaporation: plan, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 science lessons from the Introduction to states of matter and changing states unit, dive into the full secondary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
This is a planning lesson, but it may help children to plan if they have access to thermometers and small dishes or pieces of fabric that could be used to hold water.
Content guidance
- Risk assessment required - equipment
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Starter quiz
6 Questions


liquid to gas
gas to liquid

the change of state from liquid to gas
the change of state from gas to liquid
Exit quiz
6 Questions


