Our third grade students will build on last year's experiences with matter learning that all matter is made up of smaller particles called molecules. Molecules depend on heat energy to change state from a solid to a liquid to a gas. Students will continue to study the properties of solids, liquids and gases including items that conduct electrical and heat energy. Third graders will use different scientific tools to measure matter including a pan balance, ruler, and thermometer. Students will try to identify the properties of a mystery substance.
What You Can Do at Home
Activities
Cooking dinner with your child may provide a wonderful activity to observe matter going through physical and chemical changes. Show your child the raw ingredients before you begin to cook. Your child can classify them by state, listing the solid and liquid ingredients. When preparing and cooking ask your child how food changes when it is cooked. Spark a conversation with your child by discussing the following:
• Food is cut up into different sizes and shapes (physical change).
• Ingredients are mixed together(physical change).
• Foods change shape and state when heated (chemical change).
• When food burns, it goes through a chemical change.
Websites
BBC School Science - Gases Around Us. Play the interactive game to learn about gases. http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/9_10/gases.shtml
BBC School Science - Changing State. Add and remove heat and observe what happens to water.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/9_10/changing_state.shtml
Scholastic Studyjams: Solids, Liquid, and Gases
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/matter/solids-liquids-gases.htm
Suggested Reading
Piñata Maker by George Ancona. Students will discover many physical changes as they read about the making of a piñata.
What Is the World Made Of? by Kathleen W. Zoehfield. Explains the three states of matter.
For a list of science nonfiction books, please click on the link titled Favorite Links and Books to Read. Click on the sublink Grades 3-5 Science Nonfiction Books, where you will find a detailed list of books related to many different topics in science.
What You Can Do at Home
Activities
Cooking dinner with your child may provide a wonderful activity to observe matter going through physical and chemical changes. Show your child the raw ingredients before you begin to cook. Your child can classify them by state, listing the solid and liquid ingredients. When preparing and cooking ask your child how food changes when it is cooked. Spark a conversation with your child by discussing the following:
• Food is cut up into different sizes and shapes (physical change).
• Ingredients are mixed together(physical change).
• Foods change shape and state when heated (chemical change).
• When food burns, it goes through a chemical change.
Websites
BBC School Science - Gases Around Us. Play the interactive game to learn about gases. http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/9_10/gases.shtml
BBC School Science - Changing State. Add and remove heat and observe what happens to water.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/9_10/changing_state.shtml
Scholastic Studyjams: Solids, Liquid, and Gases
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/matter/solids-liquids-gases.htm
Suggested Reading
Piñata Maker by George Ancona. Students will discover many physical changes as they read about the making of a piñata.
What Is the World Made Of? by Kathleen W. Zoehfield. Explains the three states of matter.
For a list of science nonfiction books, please click on the link titled Favorite Links and Books to Read. Click on the sublink Grades 3-5 Science Nonfiction Books, where you will find a detailed list of books related to many different topics in science.