Matter Mania: Exploring Solids, Liquids, and Gases!

Science Grades 5th Grade 3:31 Video
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Lesson Description

Discover what matter is, its three states (solid, liquid, and gas), and conduct a simple experiment to prove that air is matter! Get ready for a hands-on exploration of the stuff that makes up everything around us.

Video Resource

What's Matter? - Crash Course Kids #3.1

Crash Course Kids

Duration: 3:31
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Matter is anything that has weight and takes up space (volume).
  • The three states of matter are solid, liquid, and gas.
  • Gases, like air, are matter even though they are often invisible.

Learning Objectives

  • Define matter and explain its two key characteristics: weight and volume.
  • Identify and describe the three states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas.
  • Conduct a simple experiment to demonstrate that air (a gas) is matter and possesses weight and volume.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by asking students what they think matter is. Show the Crash Course Kids video 'What's Matter? - Crash Course Kids #3.1'. Engage the students and ask them to pay attention to the key concepts.
  • Discussing Matter (10 mins)
    After watching the video, have a class discussion about the definition of matter and its characteristics (weight and volume). Ask students to provide examples of matter that they encounter in their daily lives.
  • Exploring States of Matter (15 mins)
    Discuss the three states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas. Ask students to give examples of each state and describe their properties. Focus on how solids maintain their shape, liquids take the shape of their container, and gases fill all available space.
  • Air is Matter Experiment (20 mins)
    Recreate the experiment shown in the video to prove that air is matter. Have students work in small groups to conduct the experiment using balloons, a meter stick, string, and tape. Guide them through the process and ensure they understand the results. Have students record their observations and discuss the findings.
  • Wrap Up (10 mins)
    Review the key concepts of matter, weight, volume, and the three states of matter. Answer any remaining questions and assign the quizzes for assessment.

Interactive Exercises

  • Matter Scavenger Hunt
    Have students search the classroom or their homes for examples of solids, liquids, and gases. They should create a list and describe the properties of each example.
  • States of Matter Charades
    Divide the class into teams and have them act out different objects in different states of matter. For example, they could act like a flowing river (liquid), a frozen statue (solid), or wind blowing leaves (gas).

Discussion Questions

  • What is matter, and what are its two main properties?
  • Can you give examples of solids, liquids, and gases that you see every day?
  • How does the balloon experiment prove that air is matter?

Skills Developed

  • Observation
  • Critical Thinking
  • Scientific Inquiry
  • Data Interpretation

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

What is matter?

Correct Answer: Anything that has weight and takes up space

Question 2:

Which of these is NOT a state of matter?

Correct Answer: Plasma

Question 3:

Which state of matter has a definite shape and volume?

Correct Answer: Solid

Question 4:

Which state of matter takes the shape of its container?

Correct Answer: Liquid

Question 5:

Which state of matter fills all available space?

Correct Answer: Gas

Question 6:

What are the two properties of matter?

Correct Answer: Weight and Volume

Question 7:

Air is an example of which state of matter?

Correct Answer: Gas

Question 8:

In the balloon experiment, what happened when the balloon was filled with air?

Correct Answer: It became heavier

Question 9:

Which of these is a liquid?

Correct Answer: Water

Question 10:

Which of these is a solid?

Correct Answer: Ice

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

Anything that has weight and takes up space is called ____.

Correct Answer: matter

Question 2:

The amount of space that matter takes up is called ____.

Correct Answer: volume

Question 3:

The three states of matter are solid, liquid, and ____.

Correct Answer: gas

Question 4:

Ice is an example of matter in the ____ state.

Correct Answer: solid

Question 5:

Water is an example of matter in the ____ state.

Correct Answer: liquid

Question 6:

Air is an example of matter in the ____ state.

Correct Answer: gas

Question 7:

In the balloon experiment, the balloon with air weighed ____ than the empty balloon.

Correct Answer: more

Question 8:

Even though we can't always see it, ____ is matter.

Correct Answer: air

Question 9:

_____ is how heavy something is.

Correct Answer: Weight

Question 10:

The space inside the water bottle is filled with ____.

Correct Answer: matter

Educational Standards

5.PS1-1:Develop a model to describe that matter is made of particles too small to be seen. [Clarification Statement: Examples of evidence could include adding air to expand a basketball, compressing air in a syringe, dissolving sugar in water, and evaporating salt water.] [Assessment Boundary: Assessment does not include the atomic-scale mechanism of evaporation and condensation or defining the unseen particles.] 5.PS1.3:Make observations and measurements to identify materials based on their properties.

Teaching Materials

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