Solids, Liquids, and Gas, Oh My!

Matter is anything that has mass and takes up space. What is Matter? Matter is anything that has mass and takes up space. Look around the room and raise your hand when you see something that is made of matter. Now look around the room and raise your hand when you see something that is not made of matter.

Matter can come in three different forms or states. States of Matter Matter can come in three different forms or states. Matter can be in the state of a solid, liquid, or gas.

Solid A solid is matter that has definite size (volume) and shape. It does not change when put into something else.

Liquid Liquids have a fixed volume, but not a fixed shape. A liquid takes the shape of any container.

Gas Gas is a matter that has no definite shape or volume. Gases take the shape of whatever container they are in.

Worksheet - Description Now that you’ve learned about solids, liquids, and gases complete the “Description” column of your worksheet. If you have a question, raise your hand.

Activity Based on what you’ve learned about solids, liquids, and gases, see if you can identify what state of matter each of the items shown are. Listen carefully to instructions and wait for your name to be called to speak.

Worksheet - Examples Now that you’ve seen examples of solids, liquids, and gases complete the “Example” column of your worksheet by drawing and coloring an example for each. If you have a question, raise your hand.

Balloon Activity Hold the empty balloon in your hand. Observe the balloon as it is. Is there anything in it? This will be our container for the second part of the activity.

Do not touch the balloons at your group’s desks until told to do so. Take turns looking at each balloon. Gently pick up each and discuss observations you make as a group. Determine which of the balloons holds a solid, a liquid, and a gas and mark each in the third column of your worksheet.

What do you think will happen to the matter when the container is removed? Carefully cut each balloon one at a time and observe what happens to each state of matter when the container is removed. What happened with each balloon?

What have you learned? Stand up and push in your chair. Gently passing the balloon around to your classmates, share one thing that you learned from the lesson today.