Lesson Plan
Mystery Matter
Students will be able to identify and describe the three basic states of matter (solid, liquid, gas) through hands-on observation and discussion.
Understanding the states of matter is fundamental to comprehending the physical world around us. This lesson provides an accessible and engaging way for SPED students to grasp these core concepts, building a strong foundation for future science learning.
Audience
5th Grade SPED Students (Tier 2 Group)
Time
15 minutes
Approach
Hands-on exploration and guided discussion.
Materials
Small mystery bags/containers (one per group or student), Variety of small objects representing solids (e.g., block, rock, coin), Liquids in small, sealed containers (e.g., water bottle, juice box), Balloons or sealed plastic bags containing air (gas), Whiteboard or chart paper, Markers, Warm Up: What's the State?, Mystery Matter Activity Card, and Cool Down: Matter Exit Ticket
Prep
Prepare Materials
10 minutes
- Gather small objects for solids, liquids in sealed containers, and balloons/sealed bags for gases.
- Prepare 'mystery bags' or containers, each holding one example of a solid, liquid, or gas.
- Print or write out the Warm Up: What's the State? and Mystery Matter Activity Card for each student/group.
- Print or write out the Cool Down: Matter Exit Ticket for each student.
- Review all generated materials to ensure familiarity with content and flow.
Step 1
Warm Up: What's the State?
3 minutes
- Begin with the Warm Up: What's the State? to activate prior knowledge.
- Ask students to think about things they see around them and whether they are solid, liquid, or gas. Briefly discuss their ideas.
Step 2
Introducing Matter
2 minutes
- Use the Mystery Matter Slide Deck to briefly introduce or review the concepts of solid, liquid, and gas.
- Emphasize key characteristics: Solids keep their shape, liquids take the shape of their container, and gases spread out to fill their container.
Step 3
Mystery Matter Exploration
7 minutes
- Distribute the 'mystery bags' or containers to each group/student, along with the Mystery Matter Activity Card.
- Instruct students to carefully observe, touch, and gently manipulate the item in their bag (without opening liquid/gas containers).
- Guide them to discuss within their group or individually: 'What does it feel like? What shape is it? Does it change shape?'
- Have them record their observations and predict the state of matter on their activity card.
- Circulate to provide support, ask probing questions, and reinforce vocabulary.
Step 4
Share and Discuss
2 minutes
- Bring the class back together. Have each group/student share one of their 'mystery items' and explain why they classified it as a solid, liquid, or gas.
- Facilitate a brief discussion, clarifying any misconceptions and reinforcing correct terminology.
Step 5
Cool Down: Matter Exit Ticket
1 minute
- Distribute the Cool Down: Matter Exit Ticket.
- Ask students to complete it independently as an exit ticket to assess their understanding of the main concepts.
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Slide Deck
Welcome, Science Detectives!
Today, we're exploring the 'stuff' all around us!
Welcome students and introduce the topic. Explain that today we're going to be science detectives!
What is Matter?
Matter is anything that takes up space and has weight.
Everything around you is matter!
Briefly review what matter is. Use simple language and visuals.
State 1: Solid
Solids keep their own shape!
- They don't spread out.
- You can hold them.
Examples: Rock, Ice, Desk, Book
Introduce Solids. Give examples and ask students to name others.
State 2: Liquid
Liquids take the shape of their container!
- They can flow.
- They don't keep their own shape.
Examples: Water, Juice, Milk, Oil
Introduce Liquids. Give examples and ask students to name others. Emphasize they take the shape of their container.
State 3: Gas
Gases spread out everywhere!
- You can't always see them.
- They fill up any space they are in.
Examples: Air in a balloon, Steam, Oxygen
Introduce Gases. Explain that they spread out to fill any space. Use the balloon as an example.
Time to Investigate!
Get ready to explore some mystery items.
You'll be a matter detective!
Transition to the activity. Explain they will be exploring 'mystery' items.
Warm Up
Warm Up: What's the State?
Look around the classroom!
1. Name one thing that is a solid.
2. Name one thing that is a liquid.
3. Name one thing that is a gas.
Activity
Mystery Matter Activity Card
Name: __________________________
Instructions: Carefully observe your mystery item. Touch it (if it's safe!). Answer the questions below and predict its state of matter.
Mystery Item 1:
- Describe your item: What does it look like? What does it feel like?
- What shape is it? Does it keep its own shape, or does it take the shape of its container?
- My prediction: Is this a solid, a liquid, or a gas?
Mystery Item 2 (Optional, if time allows):
- Describe your item: What does it look like? What does it feel like?
- What shape is it? Does it keep its own shape, or does it take the shape of its container?
- My prediction: Is this a solid, a liquid, or a gas?
Cool Down
Cool Down: Matter Exit Ticket
Name: __________________________
-
Draw an example of a solid.
-
Draw an example of a liquid.
-
Draw an example of a gas.
-
Tell me one new thing you learned about matter today!
Script
Mystery Matter Script
Warm Up (3 minutes)
Teacher: "Good morning, science detectives! Today, we're going on a quick science quest to explore the 'stuff' all around us. Before we dive in, let's warm up our brains with a quick activity."
"Please take out your Warm Up: What's the State? paper. Look around the classroom and silently think about everything you see, touch, or even feel. Can you name one thing that is a solid? How about a liquid? And can you think of something that is a gas?"
"Take about one minute to write down your answers for question 1, 2, and 3."
(Allow students to write. Circulate to observe their ideas.)
Teacher: "Okay, let's share a few! Who has an example of a solid?" (Call on a few students. Prompt them to explain why they think it's a solid, e.g., 'It keeps its shape.')
Teacher: "Great! How about a liquid?" (Call on a few. Prompt for explanation.)
Teacher: "Excellent! And a gas? This one can be tricky!" (Call on a few. Prompt for explanation.)
Introducing Matter (2 minutes)
Teacher: "Fantastic ideas, everyone! All the things you just named – solids, liquids, and gases – are types of matter. Can everyone say 'matter'?"
Students: "Matter!"
Teacher: "That's right! Matter is anything that takes up space and has weight. Basically, everything you can see, touch, or even breathe is made of matter! Today, we're going to become experts at identifying the three main states of matter: solids, liquids, and gases."
"Let's look at our Mystery Matter Slide Deck for a super quick overview."
(Advance to Slide 2: What is Matter?)
Teacher: "As it says, matter is anything that takes up space and has weight. Everything around you is matter!"
(Advance to Slide 3: State 1: Solid)
Teacher: "First up, solids. What do you notice about the examples here? A rock, ice, a desk, a book. The most important thing about a solid is that it keeps its own shape. It doesn't spread out, and you can usually hold it. If I hold this pen, it stays a pen, right? It doesn't melt into a puddle."
(Advance to Slide 4: State 2: Liquid)
Teacher: "Next, liquids. Look at the pictures: water, juice, milk. The key for liquids is that they take the shape of their container. If I pour water into a cup, it looks like a cup. If I pour it into a bowl, it looks like a bowl. Liquids can flow!"
(Advance to Slide 5: State 3: Gas)
Teacher: "And finally, gases. These can be the trickiest because you often can't see them, like the air we breathe! But they are still matter. Gases spread out everywhere to fill whatever space they are in. Think about a balloon – the air inside fills the whole balloon!"
(Advance to Slide 6: Time to Investigate!)
Mystery Matter Exploration (7 minutes)
Teacher: "Alright, science detectives, it's time for our main mission! I have some mystery items for each of your groups. You're going to explore them and figure out their state of matter. Remember our clues: Does it keep its own shape? Does it flow? Does it spread out everywhere?"
"Each group will get a Mystery Matter Activity Card and a mystery bag/container."
(Distribute the activity cards and mystery bags/containers. Ensure liquids and gases are in sealed containers and clearly instruct students not to open them.)
Teacher: "Before you start, listen carefully. Do NOT open any sealed containers. We don't want any spills! Your job is to observe your item. You can gently touch it, look at it from all sides, and even gently shake it (if it's a sealed liquid)."
"Discuss with your group: What does it feel like? What shape is it? Does it change shape if you move it around? Then, on your activity card, describe your item and predict if it's a solid, a liquid, or a gas."
"I'll be walking around to help. You have about 6 minutes for this exploration."
(Circulate, providing support, prompting questions, and guiding discussions. Help students articulate their observations and link them to the properties of solids, liquids, and gases.)
Share and Discuss (2 minutes)
Teacher: "Time to bring it back together, detectives! Let's hear what you discovered. Who would like to share one of their mystery items and tell us what state of matter you think it is, and why?"
(Call on a few groups/students. Encourage them to use the vocabulary learned. Correct any misconceptions gently and reinforce correct understanding. For example: "That's a great observation! So because the juice took the shape of its bottle, it's a liquid, right?")
Cool Down (1 minute)
Teacher: "Wonderful work today, everyone! You've been fantastic matter detectives. To wrap up our science quest, please grab a Cool Down: Matter Exit Ticket."
"On this ticket, I want you to draw an example of a solid, a liquid, and a gas. Then, tell me one new thing you learned about matter today! This will be your exit ticket for science."
"Thank you for your hard work!"