American Chemical Society
Matter on the Move
Start this mini unit on matter out by demonstrating how food coloring behaves when placed in cold and in hot water. Then have the class experiment with warm water and soap film. Pupils will learn that an increase in thermal energy also...
Curated OER
Ice Cream Blizzards
Fourth graders explore whether the making of homemade ice cream is a physical change or a chemical change in a lab experiment. Students identify states of matter, describe the physical properties of states, and collect temperature data...
Curated OER
What's the Matter?
Students explore matter. In this matter and technology lesson, students locate examples of solids, liquids, and gases inside and outside the classroom, and record their findings in a graphic organizer. Students listen to the book What...
CK-12 Foundation
It's Just a Phase
Explore the phases of water as temperature rises. Pupils consider the idea that temperature remains constant during each phase change. An interactive exercise allows your young scientists to observe the temperature and molecular motion...
Virginia Department of Education
A Crystal Lab
Young chemists grow ionic crystals, metallic crystals, and supersaturated crystals in three different lab experiments. Observing these under a microscope allows pupils to compare the various structures.
Curated OER
What's The Scoop?
Students explore the properties of matter. In this cross curriculum three states of matter science lesson, students listen to the poem "Eighteen Flavors" by Shel Silverstein, and predict what will happen if listed ingredients are...
Concord Consortium
Different Excited States for Different Elements
Explore the excited states of atoms through an interactive lesson. Scholars adjust the initial speed of atoms and observe the kinetic energy of the system as the atoms interact. As they change the initial speed and location of the atoms,...
Concord Consortium
Charged and Neutral Atoms
Do charged and neutral particles behave differently as they undergo phase changes? Science sleuths examine two types of attractive forces using an informative interactive. Pupils can vary the amount of Van der Waals attraction present...
Curated OER
What is Matter?
Students investigate what matter is and how it changes states. In this physical properties lesson, students examine the vocabulary database and identify the characteristics of the three phases of matter. Students perform a liquid vs....
Curated OER
States of Matter Lessons
Teachers can give their students hands-on ways to explore solids, liquids, and gases with these lesson plans.
Baylor College
Moving Air
In lab groups, young scientists place aluminum cans with a bubble-solution cap into different temperatures of water to see what size of bubble dome forms. As part of an atmosphere unit in preparation for learning about convection...
Curated OER
Observations of Properties of Matter
To guide learners through observations of chemical samples in the lab, this resource asks them to give all formulas and complete the attached data sheet. There are multiple questions about categories of elements and general behavior,
University of Chicago
Don't Be Too Flaky
Snow, ice, and water are all composed of H2O. Does that mean they all have the same volume? Discover the ways that the densities of these substances determine their volumes, and how they change based on their current states of matter....
Concord Consortium
Molecular View of a Solid
Why are solids, well ... solid? Take a peek inside a solid substance with an easy-to-use interactive. Science sleuths examine the motion and position of the atoms that make up a solid before drawing conclusions from their observations.
Columbus City Schools
Changes All Around Us
Whoa! What just happened? That's right, change is everywhere. But what exactly is changing? Middle school science sleuths get to the bottom of the changes matter can experience. Through simple demonstrations, engaging videos, and an...
Curated OER
Matter Unit
Students create products from studying about matter that include: Make a "T" chart with matter and non matter items. Write a poem, song, or rap about matter. Five vocabulary words from the chapter must be included in the poem.
Curated OER
Water and Ice
Young scholars investigate how water changes state. For this water lesson, students observe, measure, and describe water as it changes state. This lesson includes extensions which can be accessed via the provided web links.
Cornell University
Chemical Reactions
Investigate the Law of Conservation of Mass through a lab exploration. Individuals combine materials to initiate chemical reactions. They monitor for signs of reactions and measure the masses before and after the reactions for comparison.
Science 4 Inquiry
All the Small Things
Scholars use sorting cards to try to define a pure substance versus a mixture. Risk becomes reward as they observe the differences and create a flowchart sorting matter into mixtures and pure substances (elements and compounds).
Curated OER
Properties of Matter
Third graders explore forms of matter through reading, hands-on science activities, and research using the Internet. Students create a booklet, directions given, that they title and decorate, to later serve as a review visualization...
Curated OER
Phases of Matter
Eighth graders practice using correct vocabulary and apply content knowledge related to phases of matter when answering questions about situations or observations from everyday life.
Steinhardt Apps
Kinetic Molecular Theory
Building off young chemists' knowledge of the states of matter, kinetic molecular theory is the focus of the unit. Eight days of lessons including multiple demonstrations, one lab experiment, directed instruction, and worksheets,...
Curated OER
The Penny Factory
Fourth graders identify the characteristics of a simple physical and chemical change. They describe objects by the properties of the materials from which they are made and separate or sort items using these properties. Students explain...
Curated OER
Observing Popcorn
Fifth graders discover the process of boiling water and how it is part of the changing of states of matter. They observe a kernel of popcorn pop in a test tube with water and take notes of how the water changes to the form of a gas....