Matter Matters

We’re working on our matter unit in science and it has been so much fun! I love being able to do hands-on science with my kiddos, but I didn’t have many resources for matter. Our science book is fine, but a little boring. {Can anyone relate to that?} So you know what I did… I hit up Teachers Pay Teachers!

I thought my students had a pretty good grasp of the states of matter (solid, liquid, gas) and would be ready to jump into changes in states of matter, but I was wrong. So we backed up and did a couple basic activities like sorting pictures and completing a super cute flippy book by Christina Bainbridge. I sent the books home so students could share what they had learned with their families. I forgot to take pictures of those, sorry!

But then it was time for hands-on learning. I used the observation sheet from Miss Decarbo’s States of Matter for Kids! packet. All it took was a hot plate, water, and Jello. Simple!

The students were so impressed when I took the lid off the pan and the steam rolled up.

Then it was time to dump in the Jello packet.  Take a look at those bubbles as our solid powder changes form!

  
After each step, the students lined up and did a quick lap around my experiment desk so they could see it up close. After that, they’d sit down and write on their observation sheet. Look, a liquid again!

  
Because we were doing this at the end of the day, I needed to do a little cooking show swap. The night before, I made Jello and poured it into the bottom of plastic cups. I used the “jiggler” ratio on the box to make sure it was a firm solid that could be popped out of the cup.

Check that out! They were amazed by the imprints from the cup on the Jello. 

There are so many other activities in the packet that I can’t wait to try with my kiddos. You can see more of them over on Chalk One Up for the Teacher, who was also working on matter this week. Christina also did a great post highlighting her pack. Love, love, love! 

Find more science ideas in this fun linky party!