Liquids
TEKS Objective
The student is expected to describe and classify samples of matter as solids, liquids, and gases and demonstrate that solids have a definite shape and that liquids and gases take the shape of their container.
Essential Understanding
The student knows that matter has measurable physical properties and those properties determine how matter is classified, changed, and used.
Science Background
Matter is the Stuff Around You: Chem4Kids (website) - Descriptions and illustrations on the five states of matter, including solids.
Matter is the Stuff Around You
by Andrew Rader, Chem4Kids, www.chem4kids.com
Solids, Liquids and Something in Between: Cornell Center for Materials Research (website) - An explanation of why a mixture of cornstarch and water sometimes behaves like a liquid and other times like a solid.
Solids, Liquids and Something in Between
Cornell Center for Materials Research, www.ccmr.cornell.edu
States of Matter: Purdue University (website) - Illustrated explanation of the differences between, and behavior of the particles in solids, liquids, and gases.
Signature Lesson
Investigating Matter, Solid or Liquid: MnSTEP (website) – Student investigate “oobleck,” a cornstarch and water mixture that demonstrates properties of both solids and liquids.
- Supporting Lessons
- Extensions
- Assessment Ideas
- Literature Connections
- Related
TEKS - Additional Resources
Supporting Lessons
Changing Shape of Water: Worcester (MA) Polytechnic Institute (PDF) - Students conduct an investigate properties of liquids, and learn that liquids take the shape of their containers but do not change in volume.
Changing Shape of Water
Worcester (MA) Polytechnic Institute, www.wpi.edu
Elaboration Lessons and Extensions
Solids, Liquids and Gases: American Chemical Society (website) – Hands-on activities on gases, liquids and states of matter.
Solids, Liquids and Gases
American Chemical Society, www.portal.acs.org
Assessment Ideas
Give each group of students a small plastic bag that is filled partially with shaving cream. Ask students to decide whether the shaving cream is a liquid, solid or gas, and to list the evidence for their answer. Accept all answers that are reasonable. At a minimum, students should mention that liquids are difficult to compress, keep a constant volume and assume the shape of their container. Shaving cream is mixture of a liquid and a gas (air bubbles trapped in the liquid) to form foam!
Literature Connections
Physics: Why Matter Matters! Green, D. (ISBN-13: 978-0753462140)
Water as a Liquid. Frost, Helen (ISBN-13: 978-0736848756)
Solids, Liquids, and Gases. Ontario Science Centre (ISBN-13: 978-1550744019)
Solid, Liquid, Gas. Robinson, Fay (ISBN-13: 978-0516460413)
Solid, Liquid, or Gas? Hewitt, Sally (ISBN-13: 978-0516263939)
States of Matter. Delta Education (ISBN-13: 978-1592422531)
Additional Resources
States of Matter: Super Teacher Ideas (website) - Lessons, activities and demonstrations related to matter.
States of Matter
Super Teacher Ideas, www.superteacherideas.com
Changing State: BBC (website) - Interactive online game that allows students to explore how changes in temperature can change the state of matter.
Changing State
BBC, www.bbc.co.uk
Phases of Matter: NASA (website) - This NASA website explores the relationship between molecules and states of matter.
TEKS Navigation
Grade 3
User Information
Not Registered Yet?
Sign Up Today!
Need Assistance?
If you need help or have a question please use the links below to help resolve your problem.
Comments