Lesson A-2: Solids, Liquids, Gases

Objective: To have the student(s) understand and classify the three states of matter (solid, liquid, and
gas).

Materials:

Balloon

Bottle (plastic or glass) – for holding liquids

Box (cardboard or plastic) X 3

Butter

Ice cube

Oil

Perfume

Rock

Spoon

Syrup

Water

Introduction:

Remind the students of the classification lesson. Introduce the idea that another way to sort objects is by
dividing them based on their state of matter: solid, liquid, or gas.

Activity 1: Solid, Liquid, or Gas

Set out 3 boxes that have been labeled “solid”, “liquid”, and “gas”. Have your child place items (eg. Oil,
perfume, rock, spoon, syrup, water) into the appropriate box. Make sure that they understand that the
liquid items refer to the actual liquid and not the container that they are inside. You may decide to leave
the gas box empty or you may wish to blow up the balloon and place it inside the gas box.

Discussion Notes:

Solids have a distinct size and shape. They do not need containers, but they can have many different
properties (ie. hard, soft, flexible, brittle).

Liquids flow (slowly or quickly) and hence, they must be kept in containers.

Once the perfume has been sprayed, the particles of the perfume become a gas and can be detected by
our noses in the air. You may also wish to mention that some gases are poisonous and if they smell
something strange, then they should seek fresh air and tell an adult.

Our bodies are a complex combination of all the states of matter. We breathe in air (gas), we circulate
blood (liquid), and our organs are solids.
Activity 2: Changes between the states of matter

Classify ice cubes and butter. Melt some butter and melt the ice cube.

Boil some water to show the change from liquid to gas.

Discussion Notes:

An ice cube is simply frozen water. As the ice cube melts it changes from a solid to a liquid.

As the butter melts it changes from a solid to a liquid.

The perfume changes from a liquid to a gas after it has been sprayed.

Ask your child what happens to the water from wet objects as they dry. Water changes from a liquid to a
gas as an object dries.

What is generally involved when a substance changes between states of matter? Changes in
temperature

Reading List:

Solids, Liquids, And Gases by Ginger Garrett

What Is the World Made Of? All About Solids, Liquids, and Gases by Kathleen Zoehfeld

What's the Matter in Mr. Whiskers' Room? By Michael Ross

Matter: See It, Touch It, Taste It, Smell It by Darlene Stille