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.

Changes in Matter

Grade: 4

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

Read, discuss, and complete the ‘A Heated Discussion’ worksheet, which talks about changes in matter such a condensation, evaporation, freezing, and boiling.

Show the students a solution of water and Epsom salt. Ask the students to predict what will happen if they use the solution to paint on paper.

Have the students create a scene on dark blue construction paper using crayons. Then have the students paint on the picture using the Epsom salt solution (integrating art). As the solution dries, the water evaporates, leaving the Epsom Salt.