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Solids

Solids

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.

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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) - A basic description of the properties of oobleck.

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.

States of Matter
Purdue University, www.purdue.edu

Signature Lesson

Curious Crystals: American Chemical Society (website) - Students look carefully at four known household crystals (solids), and use their observations to identify an unknown solid crystal.

Curious Crystals
Inquiry in Action, American Chemical Society, www.inquiryinaction.org

Supporting Lessons

Inquiry in Action: American Chemical Society (PDF) - Downloadable teacher guide and animations to teach about changes in, and states of matter.

Inquiry in Action
American Chemical Society, www.inquiryinaction.org

Elaboration Lessons and Extensions

States of Matter: Explorit (PDF) - Demonstrations on the states of matter.

States of Matter
Explorit, www.explorit.org

Assessment Ideas

Have students create charts that diagram the properties of solids, liquids, and gases.

Literature Connections

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)

Water as a Solid. Frost, Helen ISBN-13: 978-0736848732)

Related Science TEKS

(3.5A) Physical Properties of Matter
The student is expected to measure, test, and record physical properties of matter, including temperature, mass, magnetism, and the ability to sink or float.

(3.5C) Changes in Matter
The student is expected to predict, observe, and record changes in the state of matter caused by heating or cooling.

(3.5D) Mixtures
The student is expected to explore and recognize that a mixture is created when two materials are combined such as gravel and sand and metal and plastic paper clips.

Related Math TEKS

3.14C   The student is expected to select or develop an appropriate problem-solving plan or strategy, including drawing a picture, looking for a pattern, systematic guessing and checking, acting it out, making a table, working a simpler problem, or working backwards to solve a problem.

3.14D  The student is expected to use tools such as real objects, manipulatives, and technology to solve problems.

3.15A  The student is expected to explain and record observations using objects, words, pictures, numbers, and technology.

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.

Phases of Matter
NASA, www.nasa.gov

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