lenny

Matter's Many Masks

user image

Lesson Plan

Matter's Many Masks

The student will be able to identify and describe the three states of matter (solid, liquid, gas) and provide examples of each.

Understanding states of matter helps us make sense of the world around us, from why ice melts to how we breathe. It's the foundation for exploring how everything is made!

Audience

2nd Grade (Individual Student)

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Guided reading, discussion, and hands-on identification.

Materials

Reading: The Three States of Matter, Worksheet: Matter Explorer Worksheet, and Slide Deck: Matter's Many Masks Slides

Prep

Prepare Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Warm Up: What's It Made Of?

5 minutes

  • Ask the student: "What do you think everything around us is made of?" Allow for open discussion and guide them towards the idea of 'matter.'
    - Show the first slide of the Matter's Many Masks Slides to introduce the topic.

Step 2

Reading & Discussion: The Three States

15 minutes

  • Present the The Three States of Matter to the student.
    - Read the passage aloud together, pausing to discuss key vocabulary and concepts for each state (solid, liquid, gas).
    - Use the physical examples gathered (rock, water, balloon) to demonstrate each state as you read. Ask the student to identify which state each object represents.
    - Display relevant slides from the Matter's Many Masks Slides as you discuss each state.

Step 3

Activity: Matter Explorer Worksheet

8 minutes

  • Hand out the Matter Explorer Worksheet.
    - Guide the student through the worksheet, helping them to identify objects and describe their states of matter based on what they've learned.
    - Encourage the student to think of their own examples for each state.

Step 4

Cool Down: Quick Check

2 minutes

  • Ask the student to quickly name one solid, one liquid, and one gas.
    - Reiterate that everything around us is matter, and it can be in different states!
lenny
0 educators
use Lenny to create lessons.

No credit card needed

Reading

The Three States of Matter

Everything around you is called matter. Matter can be found in different forms, which we call states of matter. There are three main states we see every day: solids, liquids, and gases.

## Solids
Solids are things that keep their shape. They don't change unless you push or pull them. Think about a rock, a table, or your pencil. They stay the same shape no matter where you put them. Solids have a definite shape and a definite size.

## Liquids
Liquids are things that can flow. They don't have their own shape. Instead, they take the shape of whatever container they are in. Water is a liquid. Juice is a liquid. If you pour water from a glass into a bowl, the water changes its shape to fit the bowl. Liquids have a definite size, but not a definite shape.

## Gases
Gases are all around us, but we usually can't see them! Air is a gas. When you blow up a balloon, you are putting gas inside it. Gases don't have a definite shape or a definite size. They spread out to fill up any container they are in. Imagine if you let the air out of a balloon – it would float away and mix with the air around you. Gases have no definite shape and no definite size.

lenny
lenny

Slide Deck

Matter's Many Masks

Everything around us is MATTER!

Welcome the student and introduce the idea of 'matter'. Ask what they think everything is made of.

What is Matter?

Matter is everything around you!

  • It takes up space.
  • It has weight.

We're going to explore how matter can be in different forms!

Explain that matter is anything that takes up space and has weight. Introduce the three states they will learn about.

Solids: Keeping Their Shape

Solids keep their own shape!

  • They don't change shape easily.
  • Examples: Rocks, books, chairs, ice.

What other solids do you see?

Discuss solids. Use a physical example like a rock or a pencil. Ask the student to identify other solids.

Liquids: Taking Shape

Liquids flow and take the shape of their container!

  • They don't have their own shape.
  • Examples: Water, juice, milk.

What happens when you pour water into a different glass?

Discuss liquids. Use a physical example like water in a cup. Ask the student what happens when you pour water.

Gases: Spreading Out

Gases spread out to fill any space!

  • They don't have a definite shape or size.
  • Examples: Air, steam, the gas in a balloon.

Can you see the air all around us?

Discuss gases. Use a balloon or an 'empty' plastic bag to show that gases fill space. Emphasize that we can't always see them.

Solid, Liquid, Gas!

You've learned about the three states of matter!

  • Solid: Keeps its shape.
  • Liquid: Takes the shape of its container.
  • Gas: Spreads out to fill space.

Everything is matter in one of these states!

Quick review. Ask the student to recall one example of each state.

lenny

Worksheet

Matter Explorer Worksheet

Name: ____________________________
Date: ____________________________

Part 1: What State Is It In?

Read each word and decide if it is a solid, liquid, or gas. Write your answer on the line.

  1. Water:


  2. Rock:


  3. Air in a balloon:


  4. Juice:


  5. Table:


  6. Steam from a kettle:


  7. Pencil:


  8. Milk:


Part 2: Give Your Own Examples

Think of your own examples for each state of matter!

  1. Name two solids you see in the classroom:
    a.



    b.


  2. Name two liquids you might drink:
    a.



    b.


  3. Name one gas you can think of:
    a.


lenny
lenny

Answer Key

Matter Explorer Answer Key

Part 1: What State Is It In?

  1. Water: Liquid
  2. Rock: Solid
  3. Air in a balloon: Gas
  4. Juice: Liquid
  5. Table: Solid
  6. Steam from a kettle: Gas
  7. Pencil: Solid
  8. Milk: Liquid

Part 2: Give Your Own Examples

(Answers may vary, here are some examples)

  1. Name two solids you see in the classroom:
    a. Desk
    b. Book

  2. Name two liquids you might drink:
    a. Soda
    b. Water

  3. Name one gas you can think of:
    a. Air

lenny
lenny
Matter's Many Masks • Lenny Learning