CU 3.04Solid, Liquid, and Gas
The child observes ice melting into water and water drying into the air, and sorts things into solids, liquids, and gases.
Presentation
- 1
Show the ice cube: 'This is a solid. It keeps its shape.'
- 2
Pour water from a cup into a bowl: 'This is a liquid. It pours and takes the shape of its container.'
- 3
Blow up the balloon: 'Inside is air. Air is a gas. It spreads out to fill the space.'
- 4
Place the ice on a plate on a sunny windowsill. Draw it on the chart.
- 5
Return every 15 minutes with the child and draw what is happening. Name it: 'The ice is melting. It is changing from a solid to a liquid.'
- 6
Place the header cards and sort the picture cards under them.
- 7
Put the melted water in the freezer and check it the next day.
Extensions, easiest to hardest
- Paint water on a chalkboard or sidewalk and watch it dry (evaporate) into the air
- Watch the guide boil water in a kettle and see the steam from a safe distance
- Freeze water with a small object inside and time how long it takes to melt
- Draw and label a simple water cycle
Control of error
The ice and water show the change directly; a control chart shows correct sorting of the picture cards.
Ready to move on when the child…
- Names solid, liquid, and gas and gives one example of each
- Describes melting and freezing
- Sorts picture cards correctly
Guide note
Only the guide handles heat or boiling water; children watch from behind a marked line.