Changing States of Matter
Background Information & Activities

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Remind your children that everything is made of matter. Matter is anything that takes up space and it is made up of tiny particles. Matter can come in different states, or forms, such as solids, liquids, and gases. Different types of energy, including heat, can change matter. Matter can change states through freezing, melting, evaporation, and condensation. We recommend reviewing the different kinds of matter by screening our Solids, Liquids, and Gases movie.

Review with your children that there are several different states, or forms, of matter. Solids have a definite shape and volume. The particles that make up a solid are closely packed together and do not have much space to move. Thus, solids keep their shape. Liquids flow and do not have a definite shape. Liquids take the shape of their containers. Pour a cup of water in different containers and have children observe how the shape changes. The particles that make up a liquid are farther apart than solids, and they can move around more readily. This allows liquids to flow and spread out. Gases also flow and do not have a definite shape. The particles that make up gases are farther apart than liquids, so gases can spread out in all directions to take the whole space of a container.

Different kinds of energy can cause matter to change states. Most children have experience with ice cream melting on a hot day or ice cubes melting in a glass. When a substance melts, it goes from a solid to a liquid. Heat causes the temperature of the substance to increase and particles to gain more energy. They are able to move faster and flow, causing a solid to change into a liquid.

Many children have poured liquid water into an ice cube tray and put it in the freezer to make ice, which is a solid. When a substance freezes, it loses heat and energy. Particles slow down and become more packed together. This causes liquids to change into solids. The freezing point of water is 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Different substances have different freezing points.

Adding heat to a substance can cause matter to change states. When a tea kettle full of liquid water is put on a stove, the temperature begins to rise. Particles gain more energy and are able to move and spread out more. When water boils, the liquid turns to a gas. This process is called evaporation. Your children may have observed that wet clothes will dry out if they are hung in a warm, sunny spot. The water in the clothes evaporates into the air.

Liquids can change into gases, but gases can also change into liquids. Many children have noticed droplets of water that collect on the side of a cup or glass. Water vapor is a gas in the air and when it comes in contact with the cool glass, the temperature decreases. The particles lose energy, turning the gas into a liquid. This process is called condensation.

Matter is all around us, in many different forms, and it can change. Encourage your children to observe their surroundings and ask questions. Have them make predictions and draw connections to prior knowledge to help them understand the world around them.

See more lesson plans and resources: BrainPOP Educators.

Changing States of Matter Teacher Activities

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Particle Dance Party

Have your whole class model the particles that make up solids, liquids, and gases. To model solids, have students make a shape and link arms together. They can dance in place but keep the whole shape. To model liquids, students can place their hands on each other shoulders and walk slowly around the room. They can dance and observe that they have more space to move. To model gases, have students dance about the room without touching each other. They should observe that they have much more room than before and are able to spread out freely.

Ice Cube Meltdown

Bring in a bag of ice for your students. Divide the students into small groups or pairs and have them find the fastest way to melt an ice cube. Remind your students that heat can change matter and adding more heat might make matter change faster. They may want to put the ice cubes in a sunny spot, warm them up in their hands, or just put them in a cup on their desks. Have students time how long each method takes. Which method was best? Have groups discuss and share their observations and findings with the class.

Evaporating into Thin Air

Divide students into small groups and have them pour a cup of water. Make sure they label the cup with their group name. Then have them record the height of the water level with a ruler. Have students place the cups in a sunny spot outside. Throughout the day have students measure the water level. What happened to the water level? This experiment can be done over the course of a week.

Changing States of Matter Family Activities

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Freezer Pops

Do all liquids freeze at the same rate? Do an experiment to find out together! Find or make different liquids with your child, such as water, milk, juice, rubbing alcohol, and saltwater. Pour small amounts of different liquids into labeled cups. Then put them in the freezer. Every fifteen minutes, have your child check on the liquids. Which freezes the fastest? Which is the slowest? Have your child make predictions.

Condensation and Evaporation

Take a walk with your child and find examples of condensation and evaporation. For example, you might find condensation form on the windows of cars or homes. You might find clothes drying on a clothesline. You might see a fountain spewing water into the air. Have your child take pictures or draw pictures of examples and write a brief description in order to create a reference book.