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Particle Party

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Robert Riley

Tier 2
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Particle Party Lesson Plan

Students will model how thermal energy influences particle motion and predict phase changes in pure substances by exploring simulations and diagrams, culminating in an exit ticket assessment.

Understanding MS-PS1-4 helps students grasp real-world phenomena—like melting and boiling—by linking energy input to particle behavior, building foundational chemistry concepts.

Audience

7th Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Hands-on simulation, guided discussion, formative evaluation

Materials

  • Particle Motion Simulation
  • Phase Change Handout
  • Exit Ticket: Predicting State Changes
  • Classroom thermometer or virtual temperature tool

Prep

Teacher Preparation

10 minutes

  • Review the Particle Motion Simulation to ensure familiarity.
  • Print enough copies of the Phase Change Handout for each student.
  • Prepare digital devices: load simulation on student tablets or computers.
  • Print or digitize the Exit Ticket: Predicting State Changes for quick distribution.

Step 1

Hook: Observing Phase Changes

5 minutes

  • Show a 1-minute video or live demo of dry ice sublimating.
  • Ask: “What do you notice about how the substance changes?”
  • Elicit student ideas on particle motion when heat is applied.

Step 2

Simulation Exploration

10 minutes

  • Students work in pairs to interact with the Particle Motion Simulation.
  • Prompt them to adjust temperature and observe particle spacing and speed.
  • Have pairs record at least two observations at different temperatures.

Step 3

Class Discussion & Modeling

7 minutes

  • Reconvene and ask pairs to share observations.
  • On the board, sketch particle diagrams for solid, liquid, and gas states.
  • Label how thermal energy input changes particle arrangement and movement aligned to MS-PS1-4.

Step 4

Guided Practice: Handout

5 minutes

  • Distribute the Phase Change Handout.
  • Students complete quick diagrams predicting particle motions for melting and boiling.
  • Circulate to check for correct labeling of energy flow and state changes.

Step 5

Exit Ticket Assessment

3 minutes

  • Hand out the Exit Ticket: Predicting State Changes.
  • Students answer one prompt: “Predict what happens to particle motion as a solid is heated to a liquid.”
  • Collect responses to gauge understanding and inform next steps.
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Slide Deck

Particle Party: Thermal Energy & Phase Changes

Today we’ll explore how adding or removing thermal energy affects the motion of particles in solids, liquids, and gases—and how these changes cause phase transitions.

Welcome students and introduce today’s topic. Highlight the key learning target: understanding how thermal energy influences particle motion and drives phase changes (MS-PS1-4). Remind students to link observations to particle behavior.

Explain that you’ll show a short video of dry ice sublimating. Ask students to focus on changes they observe and think about what’s happening at the particle level.

Simulation Exploration

• In pairs, open the Particle Motion Simulation
• Adjust the temperature control stepwise
• Record at least two observations of particle spacing and speed at different temperatures

Guide pairs as they launch the simulation. Circulate and prompt with questions: • How does particle spacing change as temperature rises? • What happens to particle speed?

Class Discussion & Modeling

• Share pair observations with the class
• On the board, sketch:

  • Solid arrangement
  • Liquid arrangement
  • Gas arrangement
    • Label how increased thermal energy affects particle motion

Facilitate sharing: draw diagrams on the board. Emphasize labeling: particle arrangement, energy input arrows, and state names. Reference MS-PS1-4 vocabulary.

Guided Practice: Phase Change Handout

• Distribute the Phase Change Handout
• Complete diagrams predicting particle motion for melting and boiling
• Label energy flow, particle speed, and state names

Distribute handouts and monitor student work. Provide quick feedback on their diagrams: correct energy flow arrows and state-change labels.

Exit Ticket Assessment

Answer in your own words:
“Predict what happens to particle motion as a solid is heated to become a liquid.”

Collect exit tickets quickly to check understanding. Look for accurate descriptions of particle motion changes and correct use of ‘thermal energy’ and ‘state change.’

Wrap-Up & Next Steps

• Thermal energy increases particle motion, breaking bonds and causing state changes
• Next time: apply particle models to mixtures and solutions

Reiterate the day’s learning target and applaud progress. Preview next lesson on mixtures and solutions as an application of particle behavior.

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Worksheet

Phase Change Handout

Name: ______________________ Date: ________________

1. Melting: Solid → Liquid

a. Draw the particle arrangement before melting (solid):






b. Draw the particle arrangement after melting (liquid):






c. Label each diagram with:

  • Particle spacing
  • Particle speed
  • Direction of thermal energy flow






d. In your own words, explain what happens to particle motion and arrangement during melting:












2. Boiling: Liquid → Gas

a. Draw the particle arrangement before boiling (liquid):






b. Draw the particle arrangement after boiling (gas):






c. Label each diagram with:

  • Particle spacing
  • Particle speed
  • Direction of thermal energy flow






d. In your own words, explain what happens to particle motion and arrangement during boiling:












3. Reflection

How does thermal energy input lead to phase changes? Use MS-PS1-4 vocabulary (e.g., thermal energy, particles, motion, phase change).











Complete this handout and be ready to share your observations in our next discussion.

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Quiz

Exit Ticket Predicting State Changes

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