States of Matter

Year 4

Unit Overview

In the States of Matter project, your child will identify and classify solids, liquids and gases. They will learn the properties of solids, liquids and gases and discover that some materials have properties of more than one state. They will learn that particles make up all matter and how their arrangement determines whether the material is a solid, liquid or gas. They will find that materials can change from one state to another and learn about how materials can change state. They will use thermometers to measure the temperature of water and observe what happens when water changes state. They will investigate melting ice and record their data on graphs. They will also learn about melting and boiling points, researching various materials' melting and boiling points.

❇ MEMORABLE MOMENT

Using chocolate buttons to identify and change states of matter.

️✏️ WRITING OPPORTUNITIES

Children will be writing up their investigations focussinfg on the method and prediction.

🌳 LEARNING OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM

Acting out being the particles in hoops for the different states of matter.

Unit Sequence: Learning Intentions

  1. Solids, liquids and gases: To group and sort materials into solids, liquids or gases.

  2. Classifying solids, liquids and gases: To group and sort materials into solids, liquids or gases.

  3. Particle theory: To use scientific vocabulary to report and answer questions about their findings.

  4. Melting, freezing, evaporation and condensation: To observe and explain that some materials change state when they are heated or cooled and measure or research the temperature in degrees Celsius (˚C) at which materials change state.

  5. Focus on water: To take accurate measurements in standard units, using a range of equipment.

  6. Observing, measuring and recording changes over time: To make systematic and careful observations and, where appropriate, take accurate measurements using standard units

  7. Melting and boiling points; To observe and explain that some materials change state when they are heated or cooled and research the temperature in degrees Celsius (˚C) at which materials change state.

  8. Observing, measuring and recording changes over time: To gather, record, classify and present data in a variety of ways to help in answering questions.

Scientific Enquiry: Investigations

  1. Can materials change from one state to another? (Melting a chocolate button)

  2. Measuring temperature of water

  3. Observing the temperature of water over time

  4. Melting and Boiling Points

  5. What can we do to make ice melt quicker?

🏁 BIG FINISH

The children will complete a detailed investigation about states of matter.

πŸ“– FOCUS TEXT(S)

The children will explore a variety of high quality non fiction texts linked to the topic.