Center for Learning in Action
Introduction to Matter
Begin your states of matter lessons with a demonstration designed to introduce the concept that all matter has properties. Reinforce this concept through vocabulary exploration, and the creation of atom models; salt, water, and carbon...
Curated OER
Water - Solid and Liquid
First graders conduct a science inquiry by comparing water in its liquid and solid form. The students describe the different stages of water and complete a worksheet answering questions about each form of the water. Teacher assessment...
Curated OER
Elements of Chemistry: Solids, Liquids and Gases
Students predict if icebergs melting has an effect on the sea level rising. In this global warming lesson students complete an experiment to see the effects of melting icebergs and write a conclusion on their data collected.
Curated OER
What's The World Made Of?
Second graders identify the three states of matter by examining fishbowls with various contents. They discuss their observations and the characteristics of matter in each state. Pupils read the story The Rainbow Fish and look for...
Teach Engineering
Penny Perfect Properties (Solid-Liquid Interations)
I can get more water to stay on a penny than you can! Collaborative pairs determine the volume of liquids that can be contained on the surface of copper pennies and plastic coins. The pairs analyze their results using graphs and go on to...
Cornell University
Glued into Science—Classifying Polymers
Explore the unique characteristics of polymers. A complete lesson begins with a presentation introducing polymers. Following the presentation, young scientists develop a laboratory plan for creating substances using polymers. They...
Concord Consortium
Phase Change
Energize your phase change lesson plans! Add a short but focused interactive into the mix and watch as pupils experience how states of matter react to changes in kinetic energy. The resource tracks the kinetic energy of a cold solid...
BBC
Sound and Hearing
First and second graders recognize that sound is generated in a variety of ways, and that it comes from many different sources. They explore tone and volume, realizing that there are different ways to describe sound. Some musical...
Teach Engineering
Wetting and Contact Angle
Explore terminology related to water droplets. The sixth installment of a nine-part series teaches young scientists about wetting and contact angles between water droplets and surfaces. It also distinguishes between hydrophobic and...
Smithsonian Institution
Water/Ways: The Poetry of Science
Water is the source of life. It appears in poetry in both peaceful and torrential descriptions; it appears in earth science in its liquid, gaseous, and solid states. Combine these interpretations of our planet's most precious and...
BBC
Light and Shadows
Light is such an amazing thing! Elementary schoolers explore the wonderful world of light and shadow. The lesson is meant to be carried out on a whiteboard. Objects are placed in front of a light source, and learners must predict what...
Curated OER
Mixtures of Matter
Students experiment with solids and liquids. In this mixtures of matter lesson, students combine matter to form solutions. Students hypothesize, test, and analyze the data to draw conclusions. The lesson can be extended by having...
Curated OER
Soapy Solids
Students observe and explain how a change in temperature causes a physical change in a substance. In this physical science instructional activity, students use a soap making kit to observe the effects of adding heat to the bar...
Curated OER
Matter and Energy
In this matter and energy worksheet, students identify substances as solids, liquids or gases, they use the kinetic theory to describe the motion of particles and they explain the conservation of mass and energy when a substance changes...
Curated OER
Water 1: Water and Ice
Students examine the changes as water goes from solid to liquid. In this states of matter lesson, students observe and record the changes to water as it changes from solid to liquid and back to solid.
Curated OER
Liquids: Floating and Sinking
Third graders conduct an experiment. In this floating and sinking liquids lesson plan, 3rd graders discuss density and investigate it using syrup, vegetable oil and colored water. Students observe the results and complete a worksheet.
American Chemical Society
Changing State: Melting
Dry ice is extremely cold — it is -109.3°F or -78.5°C. Scholars observe and explain the molecular motion associated with melting. Then they design their own experiments to speed up the melting process. Finally, a teacher presents a...
American Chemical Society
Density of Water
We know solids have a density we can measure, but what about liquids? Lesson explores this concept and allows scholars to explore the relationship between volume and density. Graphing and analysis questions round out the activity.
Baylor College
Serving Sizes
Are serving sizes for different foods always appropriate for what you need? In this hands-on activity, learners work in groups to estimate what one serving size of various foods are, and then evaluate their hypotheses by measuring...
Curated OER
Water and Ice
Learners observe, measure, and communicate while observing water convert from a solid to a liquid and back again. In this solid and liquid lesson plan, students answer questions as they observe this change.
Curated OER
Discovering the Properties of Matter
Students identify the properties of the three states of matter and observe the movement of Oobleck and be able to compare its movement to that of solids and liquids. They record in their Science Journal what they discovered about Oobleck.
Curated OER
Solid, Liquid or Gas?
Students explore solid, liquids, and gases. In this science lesson plan, students distinguish similarities and differences of matter and recognize that different states of matter may appear in one substance.
Curated OER
States of Matter: Solids, Liquids and Gases
Students explore various states of matter. In this science lesson plan, students recognize the properties of each state of matter and recognize the similarities and differences between the three states of matter.
Curated OER
Comparing Solids, Liquids, and Gases
In this solids, liquids and gases learning exercise, students observe a teacher demonstration about gases and they experiment with liquids to show diffusion, shape and volume. They answer nine questions about the experiments related to...