States of Matter For Grades Kg-8

Ruthie Banks                   Carter Elementary School
Terry Donatello                Archbishop Weber High School
Ayodeji Griffin                Robert Fulton Elementary School
Evangelyn Lilly                William H. Ray Elementary School
Lejon Ross                     Betsy Ross Elementary School 

Objectives:

The students will be able to observe the properties of matter and classify 
different substances as solids, liquids, and gases.

Materials Needed:

Ice Cubes                                Pats of Butter
Burner/Hot Plate                         (2) Aluminum Pans
Empty Container with Narrow Neck         Empty Bottles (Small)
Plastic Cups                             Crayons
Chalk                                    Screws
Balloons                                 Color Water
Baking Soda                              Glue
Water                                    Syrup
Vinegar                                  Dice
Blocks                                   Teaspoon
Borax Solution                           
              
Strategy:

Introduce the topic of states of matter, and ask the students to observe the 
demonstration very carefully.  Then, open a can of pop and pour some into the 
plastic cup.  Point out to the students that matter has three (3) different 
phases (solid, liquid, and gas).  Ask the students how these words:  solid, 
liquid, and gas are related to what they have just observed?  Next, display a 
block of wood or ice, a balloon filled with air, and a pot of boiling water.  
Make sure you tell the students that liquids have no definite shape.  Show the 
students pictures of a ball, football, basketball, and a bike tire.  Ask the 
students what each object is filled with?  The students should answer air.  Have 
the students explain that air and water will be the same shape of the container 
that holds it.  Tell the students to observe the pot of boiling water for about 
five (5) to ten (10) seconds.  Point out that steam is a type of gas.  Ask the 
students if the steam comes out of the pot in a regular pattern?  The students 
should answer no. 

Activities:
                                   Grades Kg-3

1.  Classify the following objects as solids, liquids, and gases according to
    sight and touch: crayons, chalk, screws, blocks, water, dice, inflated
    balloon.
           
                                   Grades 4-6
             
1.  Place a pan on a burner/hot plate.
2.  Place two (2) ice cubes or pats of butter in the center of the pan.
3.  Have the students observe what happens to the ice cubes or the pats of 
    butter.

                                   Grades 7-8
Part One:
1.  Pour the vinegar into a bottle.
2.  Put a teaspoon full of baking soda into a balloon.
3.  One student should hold the balloon so that the baking soda will not enter 
    into the balloon.  The other student should place the opening of the balloon
    over the opening of the bottle carefully.

Ask the students the question: What is being formed; a solid, liquid, or a gas? 

Part Two:
1.  25 mL (5 teaspoons) of glue in a cup
2.  20 mL (4 teaspoons) of water
3.   4 mL (1 teaspoon ) of Borax solution
    (Borax Solution:  1 teaspoon of Borax soap and 100 mL (20 teaspoons of 
    water))

Ask the students the question: What product is being formed?

Performance Assessment:

After completing each activity, each student will identify the properties of 
matter and classify different substances as solids, liquids, and/or gases.