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4th Grade 4th Grade Reading: The Water Cycle (Nonfiction)

Read an informational passage about the water cycle and answer main-idea, detail, and vocabulary questions.

  • Homework
  • Review
  • Test Prep
  • Centers

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No sign-up required. Clean, low-ink US Letter format.

Worksheet details

Grade
4th Grade
Subject
Reading
Skill
Reading Comprehension
Topic
nonfiction comprehension and text structure
Difficulty
Standard
Time
20 minutes
Pages
2 (incl. answer key)
Format
Printable PDF (US Letter)
Answer key
Included
Best for
homework, review, test prep, centers

What This Worksheet Practices

Students will determine the main idea, locate details, and use context clues in an informational passage.

  • Finding the main idea of nonfiction
  • Using context clues for new words
  • Explaining a process in order

Worksheet Preview

Preview of 4th Grade Reading: The Water Cycle (Nonfiction)

Reading a process passage

Nonfiction often explains a process in order. This passage walks through the water cycle step by step, which makes it ideal for sequence, main idea, and learning science vocabulary (evaporation, condensation, precipitation) from context clues.

How to use it

Have students underline the order words and the bolded science terms, then explain the cycle back in their own words. Builds on the honeybees passage.

👩‍🏫 Teacher note

This passage describes a cycle, so it's great for sequence and for vocabulary in context (evaporation, condensation, precipitation). Have students underline the clue words first, next, then.

🏠 Parent note

Ask your child to explain the cycle back to you in order using the passage.

Common Mistakes to Watch For

  • Confusing evaporation and condensation
  • Choosing a detail as the main idea

Answer Key

Sample answers are provided; wording may vary but should match the text.

⬇ Download Answer Key (PDF)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this worksheet free to download?

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Does it come with an answer key?

Yes — a complete answer key is included.

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