NAME: ______________________________________ GRADE &SECTION: _________________ TEACHER:

__________________________

ACTIVITY 1: Why Does Matter Matter?

OBJECTIVE: Identify and describe the classification of matter based on its physical state. (Solid, liquid,
and gas)

What do trees, air, and water have in common? They all have matter. That means they take up space.
You might be wondering why these things look so different if they all have matter. Everything found on Earth can
be grouped into one of three states of matter: solid, liquid, or gas. To figure out which state of matter an object
fits in, we must examine its properties. The properties we look at are shape, mass,
and volume. Mass is the amount of matter an object has, and volume is the amount of
space the matter takes up.

Solids are easy to recognize. They have definite shape, mass, and volume.
Trees are solids. They are made up of tiny particles called atoms. These atoms are
packed closely together, and they hold the solid in a definite shape that does not
change. If you look around your house, you will see lots of solids. Televisions, beds,
tables, chairs, and even the food you eat. Liquids do not have definite shape, but they
do have definite mass and volume.

Liquids are like solids because their atoms are close together, but what makes a
liquid different is that those atoms can move around. Liquids can change shape by flowing. If
you’ve ever spilled a glass of milk, then you know it spreads out across the floor. It does this
because the milk is taking the shape of the floor. Since liquids do not have a definite shape of
their own, they will take the shape of their containers. This is why the same amount of milk
can look different in a tall glass, a wide mug, or spread out on your kitchen floor.

Gases do not have definite shape or volume. Like liquids, gases will take the shape of
their containers. If a gas is not in a container, it will spread out indefinitely. This is because
the atoms in a gas are spaced farther apart than in a solid or a liquid. And being spread out
like this allows them to move around freely. Think about the air you breathe every day. That air
is spread across the empty space around the earth. You’ve probably also noticed that you
usually cannot see the air. This is another property of gases. Even though we cannot see
them, you meet them every day. There’s air in the tires of your family car and your bicycle.
There are many different types of gas in the earth's atmosphere, such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen,
water vapor, and helium.

When trying to remember the three states of matter, think about water. If it freezes
into a solid, it becomes ice. Its atoms are packed together keeping its shape. Of course, we
know water can also be a liquid. It flows in rivers, or it can be poured from a glass. When
water evaporates it becomes water vapor, a type of gas in the air. Try a little experiment of
your own by placing an ice cube in a covered glass or container. You will be able to observe
the ice first in its solid form and then watch as it melts into a liquid to become water.
Eventually the water will turn to water vapor and your glass or container will be filled with
this gas. You can see three different states of matter in this picture. The pot is made of
solid matter. The water inside the pot is liquid. When the liquid is heated it becomes water
vapor, which is a gas. Matter is everywhere! Can you find a solid, a liquid, and a gas around
you right now?

DIRECTION: Choose a word from the box to complete each sentence.

-solids -gases -liquids -volume -mass -shape -container -atoms -space -matter -chair -milk

-ice -oxygen -helium -juice -melting

1. The three basic properties of matter are __________________, _____________________, and

2. All matter is made up of tiny particles called _____________________________.

3. Volume is the amount of _____________________________ that matter takes up.

4. Mass is the amount of _____________________________ an object has.

5. Liquids take the shape of their _____________________________.

6. _____________________________ do not have a definite shape or volume.

7. ___________________________ do not have a definite shape, but they do have a definite volume.

8. _____________________________ have a definite shape and volume.

9. A ___________________________ and ___________________________ are examples of solids.

10. ___________________________ and ___________________________ are examples of liquids.

11. ___________________________ and ___________________________ are examples of gas.

12. Solid ice is ___________________________ when it is changing into a liquid

13-20. Using the Venn Diagram, compare and contrast the characteristics of solids, liquids, and gases using the
words/ phrases from the box below.
- atoms -matter - melting - boiling - freezing
NAME: ______________________________________ SCORE:_____________

GRADE &SECTION: TEACHER: MRS.

Identify whether the following materials are solid, liquid or gas.