Solid, Liquid, or Gas?

Grade: 4

*This is a lesson on matter that I taught to fourth grade students during my student teaching internship.

 

Use the ‘How Do Things Shape Up?’ worksheet to read and discuss the properties of solids, liquids, and gasses.

Divide the students into small groups and give each group different items that are solids, liquids, and gasses. I used air (in the balloon), corn syrup, water, rock, pom pom, pencil, cardboard tube, and a tongue depressor. Have the students take turns placing each item in an empty cup to determine whether or not the items take the shape of the container. This helps the students determine if the item has a definite shape and/or a definite volume.  They can also determine if the matter can be seen. The students can use these properties to determine whether the item is a solid, liquid, or gas.

Enhancement: to challenge above-level students, give them silly putty and have the observe the properties to determine if it’s a solid, liquid, or gas.

As a reinforcement, have the student complete the ‘What’s the Matter?’ worksheet.

Camouflage

Grades: 1-6

*This is a lesson I taught to first through sixth grade students as part of a weeklong science camp.

1. Look at pictures near and far to find the camouflaged animal. Have students try to find the camouflaged animal. Discuss the different ways animals can ‘hide’ in their surroundings. Also discuss reasons why animals need to camouflage.

2. Discuss different patterns of camouflage – show furs and discuss where these animals can best hide.

3. Have students create their own camouflaged critter using various art supplies (Integrating Art). The students must be able to describe what environment this animal can camouflage into.

* Enhancement: To challenge students, have an environment already decided and then challenge them to create an animal to camouflage into that specific environment.