Lesson Plan on The States of Matter







Unit Topic: Science


Grade Level: 4


Lesson Topic: States of Matter


Lesson Objectives:

  1. Students will be able to describe the differences they see among a solid, liquid, and gas when they are heated up and chilled

  2. Students will be able to define what a solid, liquid, and gas are.

Instructional Technique:

The students will work separately on this activity but the teacher will have planned time to come together as a class and discuss what they are seeing and learning from going through the website.

Instructional Materials:

https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/states-of-matter-basics/latest/states-of-matter-basics_en.htm

  • Dictionary

  • Projector

  • Pencils

  • Computers

  • Whiteboard

  • Activity Based Worksheet


Theoretical Perspective:

The students will be able to interact with atoms of water. This lesson is important so that the students can better visualize how each state of matter reacts in water at different temperatures. By doing the handout assigned during the activity students will be able to reiterate what they have learned.

Procedure:

  1. Introductory Activity:  

    2.

To start the students will define what a solid, liquid and gas are and look at the definition of a Kelvin. This will help them become familiar with the materials we will be talking about and working with during class.

  1. Step-by-Step:

    1. The students will first do the activity of defining a solid, liquid and gas by looking into dictionaries in the classroom and becoming familiar with the definition of Kelvin.

    2. Then we will discuss as a class the definitions so that the students fully understand what each item is they will be working with.

    3. The teacher will then pass out the worksheets and show the students the top of the page where they need to write their definitions. The students will then have time to grab dictionaries and find the definitions,

    4. After that, the teacher will show the students the website that they will be working with. The teacher will do this by going to the teacher computer and projecting it on the whiteboard the front of the class.

    5. Once the teacher is on the website they will show the students how to click on water so they are using the right material and how to change between liquid, solid and gas. After that, the teacher will show the students how to move the temperature bar at the bottom of the page to change the temperature in the class. Lastly, the teacher will show the students the top left corner of the glass where the thermometer is to tell you the temperature in the glass so they can record their results correctly.

    6. After the teacher explains the website they will then explain the part of the worksheet that goes along with the website. The teacher will tell the student what 3 temperatures they are supposed to be measuring for solid, liquid and gas. Also, the teacher should tell the students that they need to record the speed of the molecules in the glass, where the molecules are located and anything else they see happening inside the glass.

    7. The teacher will then set up the students in a computer lab to work independently on the website and their worksheet. While the students are working the teacher should walk around and observe the students progress and communicate with them about what they are seeing.

    8. Once the teacher feels most students are halfway done the class will come all together and discuss their thoughts so far.

    9. Once the discussion is over the students will finish the activity.

    10. When all students have completed the activity the whole class will turn in there worksheets to the teacher and come back together for another discussion and answer any lingering questions.