In this lesson plan, students explore the concepts of solids, liquids and gases by participating in an easy and fun science experiment on melting. They record their predictions and collect evidence to show what happened in the experiment. There are also lots of fun follow-ups.

Year 3 Science:

• A change of state between solid and liquid can be caused by adding or removing heat (ACSSU046)
• Heat can be produced in many ways and can move from one object to another (ACSSU049)
• Science involves making predictions and describing patterns and relationships (ACSHE050)
• Compare results with predictions, suggesting possible reasons for findings (ACSIS215)

• Show students an ice cube. What do you know about ice? Where is ice found? Discuss the ice cubes state of matter and its properties.
• Discuss: What can we do to an ice cube to make it a liquid?
• Explain that we are going to conduct an experiment and we are going to melt ice cubes. As a class, brainstorm 5 different ways that we can melt an ice cube and list them on the board. Remind your students that heat can change matter and adding more heat might make matter change faster.
  • These could include:
    • Placing it in a sunny spot
    • Warming between hands
    • Breathe on it
    • Wrap it in a towel
    • Place next to the window
• Which method do you think will melt the ice cube the quickest? How long do you think it will take? As a class place time predictions next to each of the methods.
• Provide students with the melting ice recording sheet. In each of the boxes they will draw up each method we will use for melting the ice cube. They will then write the time estimation in the first small box underneath.
• Assign each group with one of the above methods. They will quickly discuss roles of group members and collect their materials. One person should be a time keeper.
• When all groups are ready, draw their attention to the timer. To make the experiment fair, they will all need to start at the exact same time and they can only use their method – no cheating!

Conclusion:

• Discuss and share results.
• Compare the estimated times and if our predictions were close.
• Each student will fill in the rest of their worksheet. The lines at the bottom will allow them to discuss the experiment they completed and they will compare their predictions with the results that occurred.

Extending from new learning:

• On another day, have the students do the melting chocolate experiment below.
• Follow up with a magazine hunt for solids, liquids and gases.
• Read the poems about solids, liquids and gases

Assessment:

• Collect worksheet as evidence of student work.

Resources:

• Ice cube melting worksheet (DOC)
• Melting Chocolate Experiment (DOC)
• Magazine Hunt – Solids, Liquids and Gases (DOC)
• Solids, Liquids and Gases Poems (DOC)

 

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