Lesson Plan: !
Liquids and Solids!
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Essential Question: What physical properties determine if something is a solid or a liquid?
Overview/Educational Goals: In this lesson students will explore the characteristics of liquids
and solids through the an EDU lesson model. Students will explore a variety of liquids and
solids and their respective properties through a hands on, small group approach. Students will
have the opportunity to further understand the topic by completing a chart related to
classification of liquids and solids. Students will engage in critical thinking and scientific
discovery.!
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Curricular Connections!
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Science: LS2.1 Investigate
properties (e.g., colour, taste, smell,
shape, and texture) of familiar liquids
and solids. !
(G) Distinguish between properties of
familiar liquids and solids.!
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Methodology: !
Total time: 37 minutes!
Materials: !
- Enough liquids & solids for each group (water, jello, space
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substance, marshmallow, golf ball, egg white) all marked with a
number!
Cups to hold materials!
Newspapers!
Popsicles sticks!
“Space Substance’s Properties” Template
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1. Students are reminded of expectations for participating in experiments. (2 minutes) !
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EXPLORE!
Expectations for
Experiments: !
- Be respectful
- Follow the directions
- Listen closely
- Do not eat anything
without permission
- Ask for help if unsure
2. Separate students into predetermined groups of four (4 minutes)!
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(ie: the Lovely Liquids, Groovy Gases, Terrific Timetables, etc) !
3. Students close their eyes and listen. (1 minute)!
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“Good afternoon Grade Twos, I hope you are listening closely. I have a situation that I would like
you to imagine. Pretend that you are a scientist who is working for a Space Agency in the year
2030. One of our space probes has just returned to Earth with a variety of a strange space
substances… we are trying to discover whether they are liquids or solids. We need your help to
determine whether these space
substance are a liquid or a solid.
Once you have decided as a group
How to make Space Substance:!
whether it is a liquid or a solid,
please explain to us, and all the
• Prepare 1/2 L water mixed with 8 drops food colouring!
other scientists, why you have
• Add 2 boxes of corn starch to the green water mixture!
decided on each property for the
• Add additional 1.25 cups of water!
space substances. ”!
• Swirl together, level, and set aside!
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• About 15 minutes before you start mix the space substance by
hand, not pushing through it, but my gently lifting from the
bottom. !
4. Teacher hands out each group the template, and reads through it with the entire class. (3
minutes)!
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5. Groups each receive one of each of the items (marked with a number).!
(2 minutes)!
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DISCUSS!
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5. Students sort the items into the category that matches their property by filling in the correct
number under each heading. (10 minutes)!
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6. The teacher holds up each item and polls students whether it is a liquid or a solid. If it is a
solid, they sit down. If it is a liquid, they stand up. If students have different answers on certain
items have students explain their reasoning. (5 minutes)!
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UNDERSTAND !
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The teacher will ask students and confirm what makes a solid and what makes a liquid and
together the class determine rules to determine liquids and solids. They will fill out a chart
indicating different examples of liquids and solids. Each student will have a chance to submit an
answer (10 minutes) !
Teacher Guide: !
- Everything around you has matter. !
- Solids are a form of matter that keep their shape. They only change their shape when
force is applied to it (can demonstrate by hammering one of the solid objects) !
- Liquids are a form of matter that change their shape. They take the shape of whatever
container they are in. !
- The space substance is a solid that acts like a liquid and a liquid that can behave like a
solid. !
- The ability of solids/liquids to act like this explains ice rivers in glaciers and how plate
tectonics work within the earth’s crust.
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Safety Concerns: !
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Students eating the materials or students having allergies. !
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Reference:!
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http://www.srsd119.ca/departments/teacherinformation/ILD/Grade2/
grade2science/unitsscience2/Grade2LiquidsandSolids.doc