Exploring the States of Matter: Solid, Liquid, and Gas!

Science Grades 5th Grade 6:57 Video
Print Lesson Plan Watch Video

Lesson Description

Discover the fascinating world of matter! This lesson introduces the three states of matter – solid, liquid, and gas – and explores their properties and how they change.

Video Resource

States of Matter for Kids | Solids, Liquids, and Gases

Learn Bright

Duration: 6:57
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Matter exists in three states: solid, liquid, and gas.
  • Each state of matter has unique properties.
  • Water can exist in all three states of matter.

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to identify and describe the three states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas.
  • Students will be able to explain the properties of each state of matter.
  • Students will be able to provide examples of each state of matter from everyday life.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by asking students what they already know about matter. Show them the video 'States of Matter for Kids | Solids, Liquids, and Gases' from Learn Bright. Briefly discuss the video's main points.
  • Solid Exploration (10 mins)
    Define what a solid is. Have students name different solids that they can see or touch in the classroom, and describe the attributes of each solid.
  • Liquid Investigation (10 mins)
    Define what a liquid is. Discuss how liquids take the shape of their container. Have students share examples of different liquids.
  • Gas Discovery (10 mins)
    Define what a gas is. Discuss how gasses are often times not able to be seen. Discuss some gasses that students know of.
  • Water as All Three (10 mins)
    Explain how water can exist as a solid (ice), liquid (water), and gas (steam). Discuss the processes of melting, freezing, evaporation, and condensation.
  • Wrap Up (5 mins)
    Review the main points of the lesson. Answer any remaining questions.

Interactive Exercises

  • States of Matter Scavenger Hunt
    Have students search the classroom or their homes for examples of solids, liquids, and gases. They should write down their findings and share them with the class.
  • Water State Change Experiment
    Demonstrate the states of matter by freezing water into ice and then boiling water to create steam. Discuss the changes happening at each stage.

Discussion Questions

  • What are some differences between solids, liquids, and gases?
  • Can you think of examples where one state of matter changes into another?
  • Why is it important to understand the different states of matter?

Skills Developed

  • Observation
  • Classification
  • Critical Thinking

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

Which of the following is NOT a state of matter?

Correct Answer: Energy

Question 2:

Which state of matter has a definite shape and volume?

Correct Answer: Solid

Question 3:

Which state of matter takes the shape of its container but has a definite volume?

Correct Answer: Liquid

Question 4:

Which state of matter has no definite shape or volume?

Correct Answer: Gas

Question 5:

What is water in its solid state called?

Correct Answer: Ice

Question 6:

What is water in its gaseous state called?

Correct Answer: Steam

Question 7:

The process of a liquid turning into a gas is called:

Correct Answer: Evaporation

Question 8:

The process of a liquid turning into a solid is called:

Correct Answer: Freezing

Question 9:

The process of a solid turning into a liquid is called:

Correct Answer: Melting

Question 10:

Which of these materials can be all three states of matter?

Correct Answer: Water

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

A ______ has a definite shape and volume.

Correct Answer: solid

Question 2:

A ______ takes the shape of its container.

Correct Answer: liquid

Question 3:

A ______ has no definite shape or volume.

Correct Answer: gas

Question 4:

Ice is the ______ state of water.

Correct Answer: solid

Question 5:

Steam is the ______ state of water.

Correct Answer: gaseous

Question 6:

The process of a liquid changing to gas is called ______.

Correct Answer: evaporation

Question 7:

The process of a liquid changing to a solid is called ______.

Correct Answer: freezing

Question 8:

The process of a solid changing to a liquid is called ______.

Correct Answer: melting

Question 9:

We can feel a ______ and a ______, but we often can't feel a ______.

Correct Answer: solid, liquid, gas

Question 10:

Heating or cooling matter can cause it to change ______.

Correct Answer: state

Educational Standards

5.PS1.1:Develop a model to describe that matter is made of particles too small to be seen. 5.PS1.3:Make observations and measurements to identify materials based on their properties.

Teaching Materials

Download ready-to-use materials for this lesson:

Student Worksheet Classroom Slides Assessment Quiz
Add to Google Classroom

User Actions

Sign in to save this lesson plan to your favorites.

Sign In

Share This Lesson

Related Lesson Plans