Higher:
Describe the arrangement of particles in each state of matter
Middle:
Identify and group, solids, liquids, and gases
Lower:
List the three states of matter
Lesson Starter: What are the similarities and differences between these three images?
Ask pupils to make a list of the differences before you discuss them as a group.
Presentation - Starter Slide
Explore presentation to learn about liquids, solids and gases.
Key Concept:
During this unit, each lesson contains a key concept question housed in the '30 Second Challenge' slide. To help children master this content so the knowledge moves from their short term memory to their long term memory, at the beginning of the follow on lesson the question from the previous lesson is revisited.
The questions covered during this unit include:
1. Describe the difference between solids, liquids and gases.
2. What is the effect of temperature on solids, liquids and gases?
3. Do you think you could keep adding a solute to a solvent forever? Will it would keep dissolving?
4. What is the difference between evaporation and condensation?
5. What are the stages of the water cycle?
6. Define the terms freezing and melting.
Presentation
Expert Film: Ruth and Emily from Norton's Dairy explain how they make cheese, showing the separation of solids and liquids.
Ask the children how many of them knew how cheese was made from milk. Ask them is there are any other things they can think of that are made from milk.
How we deliver the Gatsby Benchmarks:
2 - Learning from career and labour market information: Pop along to Developing Experts career’s zone to find out about jobs in your area.
4 - Linking curriculum learning to careers: This unit showcases careers that relate to states of matter. Access our 360° virtual work tours.
7 - Encounters with Further and Higher Education: Pop along to Developing Experts career’s zone to find out about training providers in your area.
Presentation - Expert Film
Matter Models
Watch the Mission Assignment film.
Give the children some resources, as suggested on the film (marbles, plastic cups/containers/lid)
Children are to present what the molecules look like in a solid/liquid and gas using the resources given. They should think about how the marbles might be packed together and how they move if they shake it.
Matter Models
Marbles
Plastic Container with lid
Complete the Handout - either a quick check sheet to see if children can identify the solids, liquids and gases or the Marbles Handout, where children must draw and explain their states of matter models.
Quiz
With their talk partners, the children are to go through the quiz at the end of the presentation and answer the questions.
Quiz in presentation
Handout / Marbles Handout
Do children refer to solids, liquids and gases that have been introduced previously? Do they state that solids retails their shape and volume, liquids take the shape of the container but do not change in volume and gases change in both shape and volume to fill the space they are in?
Quizzes available in pupil zone.
Unit knowledge organiser and test available in unit documents area.
To change water to vapour, you must...(heat it)
To change water to ice, it must... (freeze)
The molecules in (solid/liquid/gas) are...
The Science Behind the Science
Water is one of the most important substances on Earth. Water can be found in three different states: liquid, ice and vapour. Liquids are wet. We can drink water and we can swim in it. We use it in agriculture to grow food, in our homes to clean our appliances and in hydropower to create energy. These are only a few uses of water. When water gets below 0 degrees, it freezes and becomes ice. Here are a few benefits to having ice: it reflects the sunlight, it influences ocean currents, it insulates the air, it limits severe weather and supports both native wildlife and native people. As you can see, it is very useful.
When it gets above 100 degrees or evaporates and starts to boil, it turns into a gaseous state known as vapour. Water vapour is a greenhouse gas (but not a bad one), it is the reason rain and clouds exist, it is a big component of the world’s electricity and the reason why animals such as frogs can stay hydrated.
Mission Assignment: Let’s look at the water. Ice is the solid form of water. It has a certain crystalline structure whereas water molecules are arranged regularly. The water is more compact than ice which makes ice a lot less dense than water which explains why its ability to float on water.
Compare and group materials together, according to whether they are solids, liquids or gases
Materials - Properties and uses of substances - By contributing to investigations into familiar changes in substances to produce other substances, I can describe how their characteristics have changed. SCN 2-15a
The study of planet Earth and its position in the universe, particularly its relationship with the sun; the natural phenomena and systems that shape the planet and the distinctive features that identify it.
Grouping and classifying
Asking relevant questions and using different types of scientific enquiries to answer them
Grade 4 Matter
Grade 3 - Physical Science - Matter - Observing Matter - States of Matter - What are three forms of matter? (solids)