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
Download the Free Printable PDF
No sign-up required. Clean, low-ink US Letter format.
- 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
Worksheet details
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
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?
Yes. You can download and print this worksheet for free, with no sign-up required.
Does it come with an answer key?
Yes — a complete answer key is included.
Original & reviewed. Every worksheet is created in-house from a grade-level skill brief, checked for a correct answer key, and reviewed for grade-appropriateness. Our editorial policy.