Description

Explore the role of energy in changing matter from solids into liquids or gases and back again. Guide students through an exciting exploration of states of matter wrapped up in 5E lesson plans where students investigate through active learning then apply their new knowledge to the phenomena of icy, wet, humid weather on Earth.

Driving Question: How are changes in the state of water involved in thunderstorms and other weather events?

Anchor Phenomenon: Adding or taking away energy from water causes it to change from solid to liquid to gas and back again.

ScienceFLEX® Investigative and Real-World Phenomena

• Lesson 1: Properties of Matter - How can matter be described?
  • Artists' materials show that different kinds of matter have different properties.
• Lesson 2: Changing Matter - What happens when energy is added to or removed from matter?
  • Recycling processes utilize both physical and chemical changes.
• Lesson 3: Conservation of Matter - What never changes about matter?
  • The recycling of water in the closed system of the International Space Station shows how matter is conserved.
• Lesson 4: Solids, Liquids, and Gases - How do solids, liquids, and gases compare and contrast?
  • Water is unique in that it exists in all three states at normal Earth temperatures.
• Lesson 5: Melting - What is melting and why does it happen?
  • Energy moves from warmer matter to cooler matter, causing the particles in matter to move more rapidly.
• Lesson 6: Freezing - What is freezing and why does it happen?
  • As energy moves out of liquid matter, the particles within slow down, eventually resulting in the matter becoming solid.
• Lesson 7: Evaporating and Condensing - Why do evaporation and condensation happen?
  • The movement of energy into and out of matter causes it to become a liquid or gas.
• Lesson 8: Weather and Energy - How does energy affect the weather?
  • Weather phenomena can involve water in all three states—solid, liquid, and gas.