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exploring
solids, liquids,
and gases
teacher’s guide
Editors:
Brian A. Jerome Ph.D.
Stephanie Zak Jerome
Assistant Editors:
Louise Marrier
Josh Hummel
Graphics:
Fred Thodal
a message from our company | viewing clearances | use and copyright
a message from our company . . .
Visual Learning is a Vermont-based, family owned company specializing in
the creation of science programs. As former classroom science teachers,
we have designed our programs to meet the needs and interests of both
students and teachers. Our mission is to help educators and students meet
educational goals while experiencing the thrill of science!
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Duplication rights are available, but must be negotiated with visual learning
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use and copyright
The purchase of this video program entitles the user the right to reproduce or
duplicate, in whole or in part, this teacher’s guide and the black line master
handouts for the purpose of teaching in conjunction with this video, exploring
solids, liquids, and gases. The right is restricted only for use with this video
program. Any reproduction or duplication, in whole or in part, of this guide
and student masters for any purpose other than for use with this video
program is prohibited.
2
The video and this teacher’s guide are the exclusive property of the copyright
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without prior written permission from the copyright holder is prohibited (Title
17, U.S. Code Sections 501 and 506).
Copyright © 2013
ISBN 978-1-59234-850-3
exploring solids, liquids, and gases
index
teacher’s guide
10
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2
1
mL
a message from our company
2
viewing clearances
2
use and copyright
2
student learning objectives
4
assessment
4
introducing the program
5
program viewing suggestions
5
literature connections
5
key vocabulary
6
video script
6
answer key to student assessments
9
answer key to student activities
9
student activities
what do you know now?
10
what have you learned?
11
video review
12
video quiz
12
solid, liquid, or gas?
13
what is it?
14
volume and shape
15
exploring solids, liquids, and gases
3
student learning objectives | assessment
student learning objectives
Upon viewing the video and completing the enclosed student activities,
students will be able to do the following:
1  Understand
that solids, liquids, and gases are different types of matter.
2  Define the terms volume and mass.
3  Explain that solids have a definite volume, and have a definite shape.
4  Know that in solids the particles are densely packed and move relatively
slowly.
5  Understand that liquids have a definite volume but do not have a definite
shape.
6  Explain that the particles in liquids flow more freely than in solids.
7  Describe gases as having no definite shape and no definite volume.
8  Provide an example of a solid, a liquid, and a gas.
9  Explain how water can exist as a solid, liquid, or gas.
assessment
what do you know now? (p. 10):
This preliminary assessment is an assessment tool designed to gain an
understanding of students’ preexisting knowledge. It can also be used as a
benchmark upon which to assess student progress based on the objectives
stated on the previous pages.
what have you learned? (p. 11):
This post assessment can be utilized as an assessment tool following
student completion of the program and student activities. The results of
this assessment can be compared against the results of the preliminary
assessment to assess student progress.
video review (p. 12):
The video review can be used as an assessment tool or as a student activity.
There are two sections. The first part contains questions displayed during
the program. The second part consists of a five-question video quiz to be
answered at the end of the video.
4
exploring solids, liquids, and gases
Before showing students the video ask them this question: What would you
rather fall into - a pool of water or a pool of ice cubes? Naturally students will
say that landing in a pool of water would be much more comfortable. Ice is
cold and hard.
Then, tell your students that both the ice and water are the same substances.
But, ice is a solid, and water is a liquid. Write the terms “solid” and “liquid”
on the board. Ask students to compare solid ice to liquid water. How are they
different from each other? Tell students to pay close attention to the video to
learn more about solids, liquids, and gases.
program viewing suggestions
The student master “video review” is provided (p. 12) for distribution to
students. You may choose to have your students complete this master
while viewing the program or do so upon its conclusion.
The program is approximately 10 to 12 minutes in length and includes a
five-question video quiz. Answers are not provided to the video quiz in the
video, but are included in this guide on page 9. You may choose to grade
student quizzes as an assessment tool or to review the answers in class.
introducing the program | program viewing suggestions | literature connections
introducing the program
The video is content-rich with numerous vocabulary words. For this reason
you may want to periodically stop the video to review and discuss new
terminology and concepts.
literature connections
Boothroyd, Jennifer. Many Kinds of Matter: A Look at Solids, Liquids, and
Gases. Minneapolis: Lerner Classroom, 2011.
Braun, Eric. Joe-Joe the Wizard Brews Up Solids, Liquids, and Gases. North
Mankato: Picture Window Books, 2012.
Garrett, Ginger. Solids, Liquids, and Gases. Danbury: Childrens Press, 2005.
Lindeen, Carol K. Solids, Liquids, and Gases (Nature Basics). North Mankato:
Capstone Press, 2008.
Mason, Adrienne. Change It: Solids, Liquids, Gases and You. Tonawanda:
Kids Can Press, 2006.
exploring solids, liquids, and gases
5
key vocabulary |video script
key
vocabulary
1
2
6
solids
shape
volume
particles
liquids
gas
video script
01 
introduction
16 
solids
02  During
the course of a day you probably had something to drink such as
juice,...
03  ...or a glass of water.
04  You may have eaten something like toast,...
05  ...or a sandwich.
06  While doing these things you were breathing air.
07  Each of these activities involved different types of matter.
08  The drink you had was a liquid.
09  The food you ate was a solid.
10  And the air you breathed was a gas.
11  What exactly are solids, liquids, and gases?
12  What makes these things different from each other?
13  And, what are some examples of each?
14  During the next few minutes we’re going to answer these questions and
others,...
15  ...as we explore solids, liquids, and gases.
17  This
ball is a solid.
have a definite shape.
19  This ball has a round shape that is not easily changed.
20  Solids also take up a definite amount of space.
21  Volume is the term we use to describe the amount of space something takes
up.
22  So, we can say that solids have a definite shape and a definite volume.
23  Other examples of solids include books, plates, and rocks to name just a few.
24  As you know matter is made up of particles.
25  In solids the particles are packed tightly together and move slower.
26  Believe it or not, water can also exist as a solid.
18  Solids
exploring solids, liquids, and gases
3
you
predict
4
you
compare
27  What’s
the solid form of water?
28  That’s right, it’s ice.
29  When water freezes it becomes a solid that we call ice.
30  In ice the particles move about very slowly.
31 
video script
you
decide
liquids
32  Every
time you go swimming,...
33  ...wash your hands,...
34  ...or drink a glass of milk you’re benefitting from liquids.
35  As you know, liquids do not have a definite shape.
36  They adjust their shape to the container which they fill.
37  When spilled on the floor, liquids spread out in a thin layer.
38  Even though liquids do not have a definite shape they do have a definite
volume.
39  Will
the volume of the liquid change if put into this container?
40  No. No matter what container a liquid is poured into its volume stays the
same.
41  The particles in liquid move more freely and are packed together less tightly
than in solids. This enables liquids to easily flow.
42 
gases
43  We
live in an ocean of air. In other words, air is all around us.
don’t think about the air around us very often because, well, we’re so
used to it and we can’t see it.
45  But, did you know that air is made up of different gases?
46  One of the gases our body needs and we breathe in is called oxygen.
47  A gas is a type of matter that has no definite shape and no definite volume.
48  Gases can adjust to the shape of any container.
49  As we mentioned, gases also do not have a definite volume.
50  Gases are kind of “springy”. In other words, the amount of space a given
amount of gas takes up can change.
51  A specific amount of gas can be squeezed into a small space, or it can
expand in a larger space.
52  Therefore, we can say that gases do not have a definite shape and they also
do not have a definite volume.
44  We
53  Which
diagram illustrates the particles in a gas.
diagram on the right is a gas.
55  The particles in gases are loosely packed and flow very freely.
56  Water can exist as a gas as well. It’s called water vapor.
54  The
exploring solids, liquids, and gases
7
video script
5
6
8
57 
video review
67 
video quiz
58  During
the past few minutes we investigated solids, liquids, and gases.
59  We began by looking at some examples of solids.
60  And, we learned that solids have a definite shape and a definite volume.
61  Next, we explored some of the characteristics of liquids.
62  In liquids the particles move more freely than in solids. They have a definite
volume, but no definite shape.
63  We then took a look at gases.
64  Gases are all around us, and are in the air that we breathe.
65  We learned that gases have no definite shape and no definite volume.
66  This rounded out our fascinating exploration of solids, liquids, and gases.
68  Fill
in the correct word to complete the sentence.
_____ is the amount of space something takes up.
70  2. This ball has a ______ shape.
71  3. Ice is the ______ form of water.
72  4. Liquids do not have a definite ____.
73  5. All matter is made of tiny ______.
69  1.
exploring solids, liquids, and gases
what do you know now?
1  matter
2  a solid
3  volume
4  ice
5  tightly
6  soda
7  volume
8  flow
9  gases
10  milk
video review (p. 12)
1  The solid form of water is ice.
2  No. No matter what container a liquid
is poured into its volume stays the
same.
3  The diagram on the right is a gas.
what have you learned? (p. 11)
1  volume
2  tightly
3  gases
4  matter
5  volume
6  flow
7  ice
8  milk
9  a solid
10  soda
video quiz (p. 12)
1  volume
2  round
3  solid
4  shape
5  particles
answer key to student activities
solid, liquid, or gas? (p. 13)
1  The steam coming out of a boiling tea
kettle is a gas.
2  Books are solids.
3  The water in a lake or the ocean is a
liquid.
answer key to student assessments | answer key to student activities
answer key to student assessments
what is it? (p. 14)
The answers will vary.
volume and shape (p. 15)
1  Solids have a definite volume and a definite shape.
2  Liquids have a definite volume, but do not have a definite shape.
3  Gases do not have a definite volume and do not have a definite shape.
exploring solids, liquids, and gases
9
what do you
know now?
Name:
Select the best answer for each of the following questions.
1
Everything you see is made of
what?
6
Which is not a solid?
7
Liquids have a definite:
rock
soda
chair
plate
glass
matter
air
water
2
What has a definite shape?
a liquid
air
a solid
water
3
What describes the amount of
space something takes up?
mass
air
height
volume
4
Which of the following is solid
water?
ice
slush
rain
water vapor
5
How are the particles in solids
packed?
loosely
not at all
tightly
like a gas
10 | exploring solids, liquids, and gases
volume
temperature
shape
color
8
Liquids have the ability to:
9
What makes up the air around
us?
flow
make electricity
walk
live
ice
solids
animals
gases
10
Which is a liquid?
rocks
milk
water vapor
oxygen gas
visual learning systems
what have you
learned?
Name:
Select the best answer for each of the following questions.
1
Liquids have a definite:
2
How are the particles in solids
packed?
volume
temperature
shape
color
6
Liquids have the ability to:
7
Which of the following is solid
water?
loosely
not at all
tightly
like a gas
3
What makes up the air around
us?
ice
solids
animals
gases
4
5
ice
slush
rain
water vapor
8
Which is a liquid?
rocks
milk
water vapor
oxygen gas
9
What has a definite shape?
Everything you see is made of
what?
glass
matter
air
water
What describes the amount of
space something takes up?
mass
air
height
volume
visual learning systems
flow
make electricity
walk
live
a liquid
air
a solid
water
10
Which is not a solid?
rock
soda
chair
plate
exploring solids, liquids, and gases | 11
video review
Name:
you decide
What’s the solid form of water?
you predict
Will the volume of the liquid change if put into
this container?
you compare
Which diagram illustrates the particles in a gas?
video quiz
_____________ is the amount of space something
takes up.
This ball has a ________________ shape.
Ice is the _______________ form of water.
Liquids do not have a definite ______________.
All matter is made of tiny ___________________.
12 | exploring solids, liquids, and gases
visual learning systems
solid, liquid, or gas?
Name:
Directions: Matter can exist as a solid, liquid, or gas. Decide which of the things
below is a solid, liquid, or gas.
1
2
3
visual learning systems
exploring solids, liquids, and gases | 13
what is it?
Name:
Directions: In this activity your teacher will have you decide what things
in the classroom are solids, liquids, and gases. There are ten things for
you to look at. Write the name of the thing, then circle the term solid,
liquid, or gas.
1
solid
liquid
gas
2
solid
liquid
gas
3
solid
liquid
gas
4
solid
liquid
gas
5
solid
liquid
gas
6
solid
liquid
gas
7
solid
liquid
gas
8
solid
liquid
gas
9
solid
liquid
gas
10
solid
liquid
gas
14 | exploring solids, liquids, and gases
visual learning systems
volume and shape
Name:
Directions: Volume and shape are characteristics of matter. They are used to
describe solids, liquids, and gases. Describe the general volume and shape of a
solid, liquid, and gas. Then draw a picture of each.
1 Solid
2 Liquid
3 Gas
visual learning systems
exploring solids, liquids, and gases | 15