You will learn
- Define condensation.
- Observe it safely.
- Explain dew and clouds.
- Compare with evaporation.
Version 0.2 · expanded edition · built from cited public sources Content is based on the official frameworks and sources listed under Sources and standards. No official endorsement is claimed. Written in the style of common primary school assessments. No exam result is promised.
Student lesson
- Condensation is the opposite of evaporation.
- Water vapour condenses on cold surfaces.
- Dew, mist and clouds are condensation.
- Warm moist air cools to condense.
Words to know
a gas changing to a liquid
tiny water drops formed on cool surfaces at night
a mass of tiny water drops or ice
tiny water drops floating near the ground
1. Discover: The cold glass
Selase pours cold juice into a glass. Soon the outside is covered in tiny drops. “The glass is leaking!” he says. “No,” says his teacher. “Water vapour in the air touched the cold glass and condensed into drops.”
Think: Where did the drops come from?
2. Understand: Condensation
Idea 1: Gas to liquid
Condensation happens when water vapour cools and turns back into liquid. It is the opposite of evaporation.
Idea 2: Where we see it
Cold glasses, bathroom mirrors and windows get drops. Morning dew forms on grass. Mist forms near the ground. A cloud forms high up where moist air cools.
Idea 3: Why
Cooler air cannot hold as much vapour, so the extra condenses onto surfaces or tiny dust, making droplets.
3. Worked examples
Example 1 (I show you): Explain
Cold glass.
- Vapour touches cold.
- Cools.
- Drops.
Answer: Vapour condensed on the glass.
Example 2 (We do it together): Explain
Dew.
- Night cools.
- Grass cold.
- Drops.
Answer: Cool grass causes dew.
Example 3 (You try): Compare
Evaporation.
Show the steps and answer
- Liquid to gas.
- Opposite.
- Condensation gas to liquid.
Answer: They are opposites.
Did you know?
Fog nets in dry mountain regions catch condensing fog and give villages drinking water.
Why this matters
Condensation makes rain, dew and clouds and gives us fresh water.
4. Explore: Cold can
Observe a chilled can or glass and record drops over ten minutes.
- Chill a can or glass.
- Dry it.
- Place on a tray.
- Observe drops forming.
Think about it: what did you notice?
What did you notice? Drops formed on the outside, not leaking from inside.
5. Practise
Say it in a sentence
Use these starters when you talk about the lesson. Say them out loud.
- ___ is a gas changing to liquid.
- ___ forms on grass at night.
- A ___ is tiny drops or ice high up.
- ___ is drops near the ground.
Guided practice
Question 1. What is condensation?
Gas to liquid.
Question 2. Opposite of?
Evaporation.
Question 3. What is dew?
Night drops.
Independent practice
Level 1: Start
- What is condensation?
- Opposite of?
- What is dew?
- What is mist?
- What is a cloud?
Level 2: Grow
- Why cold glass?
- Why morning dew?
- Why clouds form?
Level 3: Stretch
- Watch a can.
- Draw the water cycle.
- Explain dew.
Answers are in the answer key below. Try first, then check.
6. Apply: Science in everyday life
Explain why a window fogs up.
Show a sample answer
Use condensation.
Another one. Tell a family member one thing from this lesson. Use the words you learned.
Show a sample answer
A clear sentence that uses at least one word from Words to know.
7. Common mistakes
Fix: Vapour condenses.
Fix: Opposite.
8. Lesson summary and revision card
- I can define condensation.
- I can observe it safely.
- I can explain dew and clouds.
- I can compare with evaporation.
9. Check and master
Answer all 14 questions. You will see feedback after each one.
Your result appears here after you answer every question.
10. Key takeaways
- Condensation is the opposite of evaporation.
- Water vapour condenses on cold surfaces.
- Dew, mist and clouds are condensation.
- Warm moist air cools to condense.
11. Next lesson
Next lesson: Dissolving. Keep going with the next idea in this course.
Exam practice
These questions are written in the style of common school and international primary assessments. Try them on your own, without looking back. Then check your answers in the marking guide. The marks are shown in brackets.
- Define condensation. [2 marks]
- Explain dew. [3 marks]
- Compare condensation and evaporation. [3 marks]
- Safety rules. [2 marks]
Total: 10 marks.
Marking guide and model answers
- Gas to liquid [1]; on cooling [1]
- Night cool [1]; vapour cools [1]; drops form [1]
- 1 each (two plus comparison)
- 1 each
Score guide: 9 to 10 = secure. 6 to 8 = nearly there, revise the parts you missed. Under 6 = work through the lesson again with a grown-up.
Printable worksheet
- What is condensation?
- Opposite of?
- What is dew?
- What is mist?
- What is a cloud?
- Why cold glass?
- Why morning dew?
- Why clouds form?
- Watch a can.
- Draw the water cycle.
Homework
Observe a cold drink at home and explain the drops.
Answer key and marking scheme
| Question | Expected response | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1. What is condensation? | Gas to liquid. | 1 |
| 2. Opposite of? | Evaporation. | 1 |
| 3. What is dew? | Night drops. | 1 |
| 4. What is mist? | Low drops. | 1 |
| 5. What is a cloud? | High drops. | 1 |
| 6. Why cold glass? | Cools vapour. | 1 |
| 7. Why morning dew? | Cool night. | 1 |
| 8. Why clouds form? | Air cools. | 1 |
| 9. Watch a can. | Sketch. | 1 |
| 10. Draw the water cycle. | Diagram. | 1 |
| Total | 10 |
Independent practice answers. Level 1: 1 Gas to liquid.; 2 Evaporation.; 3 Night drops.; 4 Low drops.; 5 High drops.. Level 2: 1 Cools vapour.; 2 Cool night.; 3 Air cools.. Level 3: 1 Sketch.; 2 Diagram.; 3 Sentence..
Quiz answers: 1 B, 2 C, 3 A, 4 B, 5 C, 6 A, 7 B, 8 C, 9 A, 10 B, 11 C, 12 A, Challenge 1 B, Challenge 2 C.
Mastery and remediation
| Objective | Bronze (Developing) | Silver (Proficient) | Gold (Advanced) |
|---|---|---|---|
| O1 Define condensation | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O2 Observe it safely | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O3 Explain dew and clouds | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O4 Compare with evaporation | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
Courseversity badge thresholds (overall quiz score): Gold = 90–100%; Silver = 80–89.9%; Bronze = 70–79.9%. A badge is never a full record of progress.
If a learner struggles
- Find the misconception: “The glass leaks.” Vapour condenses.
- Explain another way: use real objects, pictures or actions first, then words.
- Show a simpler example: Explain condensation.
- Guided practice: work through one example together and let the learner try the next one.
- Reassess: use the quiz again or the worksheet.
- Move on when the learner shows Silver-level evidence independently.
For parents and guardians
In this lesson your child observes condensation. You do not need to be an expert to help.
- Watch a cold drink.
- Ask “Where do the drops come from?”
- Wipe up.
- Ask “how do you know?” after each answer, and listen.
- Praise effort, not only right answers. Mistakes are how we learn.
- Ten to fifteen minutes a day is better than one long session.
Teacher package
1–5. Objectives, prerequisites, materials, preparation, duration
Lesson objectives. Learners will: define condensation; observe it safely; explain dew and clouds; compare with evaporation.
Prerequisite knowledge. Grade 3 matter ideas: solids, liquids, gases, heating and cooling, melting, freezing and evaporation.
Materials. Cold can, tray, notebook. Low-resource options: use chalk or charcoal on a board or wall, drawings in the sand, and objects from the classroom instead of printed materials.
Preparation. Chill cans.
Suggested duration. 45–60 minutes. It can be split into two shorter sessions.
6–9. Teaching procedure, explanation notes, guided and independent activities
Introduction (5 min). Hold a cold can and ask, “What appears?”
Explanation (10 min). Teach condensation.
Guided activity (10 min). Learners observe.
Independent activity (10 min). Learners explain.
Assessment and reflection (5 min). Ask each learner to say one thing they learned and how they know it.
Key questions. Where does the water come from?
Teacher explanation notes. Start with real objects and safe, hands-on observation. Then talk about what was seen, then draw and write. Always say “how do you know?”. Keep to the safety notes, and use local, safe materials.
10–12. Differentiation, formative assessment, common misconceptions
Support. Use real objects and pictures, short sentences and a partner. Let learners point, show or draw instead of writing. Extension. Ask learners to find a new example at home and explain how they know.
Formative assessment. Listen to learners read and explain, ask “how do you know?”, and check the independent work.
Misconceptions. “The glass leaks.” Vapour condenses.
13–15. Assessment questions, answer keys, marking scheme
Use the quiz, the 10-mark exam practice and the worksheet on this page. All answers and marking guides are in the answer sections above. Re-check every answer before use.
16–19. Remediation, enrichment, homework, teacher reflection
Remediation. Explain condensation. Enrichment. Look for one new example near your home or school, draw it and explain it to someone. Homework. See above.
Teacher reflection. After teaching, record: which ideas learners understood; which misconceptions occurred; which activities worked; which learners need more practice; and what to improve next time.
Sources and standards
This lesson is based on the sources below, and no official endorsement is claimed. Reference starting points: Next Generation Science Standards, Cambridge Primary Science and the IB Primary Years Programme. Where a standard code is named, it points to the official framework.
Research used to shape this lesson. Courseversity Science curriculum, Grade 4 Unit 9, topic 7; Next Generation Science Standards, structure and properties of matter; Cambridge Primary Science Stage 4, chemistry: states of matter and materials; IB Primary Years Programme, how the world works. These sources informed the lesson.