Price Elementary - Ms.

Fulginiti

Julia Scarborough - TWS Lesson Plan #3

Science Lesson - Ways That Matter Can Change

Goal: Students will learn how matter can change

Standards:

3.2.1.A4 - Observe and describe what happens when substances are heated or cooled.

Distinguish between changes that are reversible (melting, freezing) and not reversible (e.g.

baking a cake, burning fuel)

Objectives:

The students will investigate ways that matter can be changed.

Content Information:

Physical Change: When matter changes but does not become a new kind of matter

Materials and Resources:

Playdoh
Pencils of different lengths
Paper
Interactive Science Notebooks
Writing Utensil
Document Camera
Projection Screen
Laptop
Two water containers

Procedures

Before:

1. The teacher will introduce the learning goal to the students inviting them read the goal
aloud, making it personal: “I will learn how matter can change”.
2. The teacher will hand out two clumps of playdoh to each student (virtual students have
playdoh at home).
3. The students will do the following with the playdoh: form a ball, squeeze the ball, add one
ball of play doh to the other.
4. The teacher will facilitate discussion with the students and the students will record what
properties of the playdoh changed as they squeezed it, and added it to more playdoh.
During:
1. Following the playdoh investigation, the teacher will introduce the students to “physical
changes”
2. The teacher will show examples of various physical changes: (Sharpening pencils - the
length of the pencil changes, but the pencil remains a pencil, paper - you can rip a paper
into two pieces and although the paper has been ripped, it remains a paper).
3. The teacher will ask the students if they can think of ways that matter changes that are not
physical changes.
4. The teacher will prompt the students to think about a time they have baked something and
how the liquid batter is put into the oven, is baked, and comes out of the oven as a solid.
5. The students will investigate how matter can be mixed and separated. (Fruit salad and salt
water).
After:
1. Students will complete the Muffin Matter Activity.
2. The teacher will ask the students questions pertaining to physical changes, and students will
hold up their answers on their white boards.

3. The teacher will direct the students attention to the water containers from day 1 and have
the students observe any changes in the water level.

Assessment:

The teacher will monitor student engagement and participation in the white board hold ups. The
teacher will assess the accuracy of student responses to how the physical properties of playdoh
and sharpened pencils can change (2/2). The teacher will assess the muffin matter activity for
student understanding (4/4)