Classroom Resources: States of Matter
1 – 18 of 18 Classroom Resources
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Molecular Motion, Phase Changes | Middle School
Activity: Atoms in Motion
In this activity, students will explore how particles that make up matter are in constant motion. The students will use an online PhET simulation to compare the ways that atoms and molecules move in samples of solids, liquids, and gases. This activity will help students improve their understanding of the particle level.
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Phase Changes, Molecular Motion | Middle School, High School
Simulation: States of Matter and Phase Changes
In this simulation, students will participate in a 10 question quiz. Some questions will challenge students to analyze data to identify the correct state of matter for a specific sample, and then connect the chosen state with an animated particle diagram. In addition, students will examine the behavior of particles in an animated sample as they undergo a phase change, and must correctly identify the change that occurs.
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Freezing Point Depression, Mixtures, Phase Changes, Freezing Point, Melting Point | High School, Middle School
Lab: How does Salt "Melt" Ice?
In this lab, students will consider why salt is used to aide in snow clearing and to help keep icy roads safe. They will investigate how salt ‘melts’ ice and determine the best type of salt to do so. Additionally, students will explore the advantages and disadvantages of the various different types of salt.
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Distillation, Physical Change, Separating Mixtures, Phase Changes | Middle School
Activity: Distillation in Survival Mode
In this activity, students will investigate methods for purifying water as they consider a survival based situation that requires clean drinking water. Students will investigate processes such as boiling and distillation, as well as review the phase changes within the water cycle.
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Polymers, Phase Changes, Physical Properties | Middle School
Lab: Changing a Monomer to a Polymer!
In this lab, students will have the opportunity to see the complexity of the different phases of matter. This lab will allow students to investigate polymers and physical properties, while connecting these concepts to the phases of matter. Students will also better understand that some substances are not easily identified as a particular phase of matter and that some substances can have characteristics of more than one phase of matter.
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Phase Changes, Boiling Point, Melting Point, Physical Properties | Elementary School, Middle School
Lesson Plan: Investigating Water's States of Matter
In this lesson, the students will identify properties of different states of matter, and then work in groups to model molecular arrangement in the solid, liquid, and gaseous states of water. This lesson will also help students to understand that the change in state as a physical change and how the solid state of water has unique properties.
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Phase Changes, Physical Change | Middle School
Lab: I Can’t Believe It’s Butter!
In this lab students will learn about the phases of matter and phase changes while making a small sample of butter.
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Phase Changes, Photosynthesis, Renewable Energy | Elementary School, Middle School
Lab: Mini Terrarium
In this lab, students will learn that even the smallest spaces can have their own climate. They will create a miniature sized terrarium and will observe how sunlight enters in order to warm the air, and in turn heat the soil and seeds. Condensation will build up in the container and the students can observe the water cycle in action, as well as the growth of the seeds over time.
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Phase Changes | Middle School
Project: Sharing Matter
In this project, students will design a lesson and activity about the states of matter to share with elementary school students. This project embraces the spirit of the famous quote by Roman philosopher Seneca: by teaching, we learn. In order to successfully teach one of the states of matter to younger students, each group must have advanced knowledge of the subject.
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Physical Properties, Density, Separating Mixtures, Matter, Culminating Project, Interdisciplinary, Phase Changes | Elementary School, Middle School
Activity: The Castaway!
In this activity, students use their knowledge of the properties of matter to create and/or design items needed for survival on a deserted island.
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Chemical Change, Physical Change, Chemical Change, Scientific Method, Melting Point, Phase Changes | Middle School
Lab: S'more Change Please
In this lab, students will be able to demonstrate the difference between a physical and chemical change by making ooey, gooey, yet yummy S’mores!
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Freezing Point, Phase Changes, Freezing Point Depression | Middle School, High School
Lab: Freezing Ice Cream
In this lab, students will investigate changing states of matter, chemical reactions, and the properties of ice and salt while creating their own ice cream.
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Freezing Point, Phase Changes, Temperature, Physical Change | Middle School
Lab: Lemon Ice
This activity explores the interaction between salt and water (ice) as a way to further investigate their impact on the state of matter of a substance. Students will use salt and ice to create a slushy lemonade drink without the use of a freezer. They will learn through this hands-on experiment how salt and ice can rapidly cool a liquid.
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Chemical Change, Phase Changes, Combustion, Observations | Elementary School, Middle School
Demonstration: The Jumping Flame
In this demonstration, students will observe that the vapor of an extinguished candle flame is ignitable.
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Freezing Point, Melting Point, Phase Changes, Acids & Bases, Physical Change | Middle School
Lesson Plan: Stearic Acid
In this lesson, students investigate how stearic acid undergoes a phase change from solid to liquid and back from liquid to solid. Temperature readings will be collected at one-minute intervals once the acid melts, the heat escapes, and the acid cools. Students are introduced to the idea that energy loss does not always result in a continuous temperature drop.
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Mixtures, Separating Mixtures, Solubility, Physical Change, Phase Changes | Middle School
Lab: A Solution to Your Mix-up
In this lab, students will perform a step by step process of mixing and separating substances based on their states and solubility in order to solve a problem.
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Chemical Change, Chemical Change, Phase Changes, Sublimation, Boiling Point, Pressure, Physical Change | Middle School
Lesson Plan: Dry Ice
In this lesson, students will investigate how dry ice undergoes a phase change from solid to gas, skipping the liquid phase under normal temperature and pressure.
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Phase Changes, Physical Change, Observations, Temperature | Elementary School, Middle School
Lab: Condensation
In this lab, students will explore the process of condensation. Students will investigate how water vapor condenses, and then they will conduct a comparison test to see if cooling water vapor has an effect on the rate of condensation.