States of Matter

What is Matter?

States of Matter

Duration: 30 minutes

  • 2-PS1-1 Plan and conduct an investigation to describe and classify different kinds of materials by their observable properties.

    [Clarification Statement: Observations could include color, texture, hardness, and flexibility. Patterns could include the similar properties that different materials share.]

By the end of this lesson, the student should able to:

  • Identify matter around the surroundings. 

matter     solid     liquid    gas

Lesson Plan

Lesson Introduction – Engage 1

Duration: 5 min

 

Prepare before lesson 

  • Large container of water
  • Plastic cup
  • Paper towel

 

Information for teacher:

When the glass is lowered in water, air is trapped inside of the glass because of the water pushing up from below. The paper towel will not get wet as long as air stays in the glass. Air and water are matter as it occupies space.

  • Large container of water
  • Plastic cup
  • Paper towel
  • Welcome students to class.
  • Ask students the following question:

What are paper towels used for? Demonstrate how a paper towel gets wet when used to wipe water.

Do you think we can place this paper towel in water without it getting wet?
Will the paper towel get wet if I put it in water? 

  • Have students make predictions. *Note: Accept all answers from students. 
  • Using a discrepant event: demonstrate the activity by filling a container full of water. (There must be enough water in the container to completely submerge a plastic cup.) Place a section of paper towel into the bottom of the cup (No part of the paper towel should be above the rim of the cup.) Turn the cup upside down and ensure that the paper towel still stays at the bottom of the cup. Carefully lower the cup into the container of water until it is completely submerged. 
  • Remove the cup from the container. 
  • Elicit from students:

What happened to the paper towel?

Is your prediction correct? 

Is it different from what you expected? Why? 

Do not need to explain to the students about what has happened. Tell students that they will find out later in the later lessons. 

Engage 2

Duration: 5 min

 

Prepare before lesson 

  • A pile of scrunch paper balls (size: a little smaller than the bottle opening so that the ball can enter it)
  • Empty plastic bottles (at least 2)

 

Information for teacher:

The bottle in this activity is full of air. In order for more air, or the ball, to move into the bottle, some air has to come out. The air coming out of the bottle pushes the ball with it. Thus, the ball is unable to go into the bottle when the students blow the ball. 

  • A pile of scrunch paper balls 
  • Empty plastic bottles (at least 2)
  • Prepare two empty plastic bottles and have two student volunteers. 
  • Have them compete with each other to get as many balls into their plastic bottle.
  • Have both students place the bottle on a table so it is horizontal.
  • Put the ball just inside the mouth of the bottle. Ask students to predict what will happen if they blow the ball. (Students may think that the ball will go into the bottle)
  • Challenge them to blow the ball into the bottle.
  • Ask students the following questions:

Were you able to blow the ball into the bottle? Why or why not?

Is the bottle empty?

Accept all possible answers from students at this point. Do not need to explain to the students about what has happened.

Engage 3

Duration: 20 min

Prepare before lesson 

  • Paper message written or printed: Matter is all around us. Find it.
  • Envelope
  • Paper 
  • Envelope
  • Inform students that they have received a mystery envelope that morning. The envelope contained the following secret message: “Matter is all around us. Find it.” 
  • Get students to look around the classroom and see if there is anything in the room that can help decipher the secret message. 
  • Elicit from students:

 Look around. What do you think is matter?

  • Invite every student to go around the classroom and pick up one item that they think is matter.
  • Facilitate a class discussion and invite some students to share examples of matter that they have picked up (item).

Student’s Homework

Did you know:

By playing games, students become more motivated to learn, pay attention and participate in set tasks. Games help students to become a part of a team as well as take responsibility for their own learning. They can also be a great classroom management tool, helping to motivate a class. Get students to play hero in STEAMValley when they are home, or make it a class project!