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Kindergarten through fifth grade science topics

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Grade Level Standards: What Should Kids Learn?

3rd Grade: How Matter Changes (States of Matter)

MATTER HAS 3 MAIN STATES: SOLID, LIQUID, AND GAS

(NCDPI 3rd Grade Science Unpacking Standards, PDF)

3.P.2 Understand the structure and properties of matter before and after they undergo a change.

Objectives:

3.P.2.1 Recognize that air is a substance that surrounds us, takes up space and has mass.

3.P.2.2 Compare solids, liquids, and gases based on their basic properties.

Students know that matter can be differentiated based on properties.
Students know that gases, liquids and solids are all made up of particles, but the behaviors of these particles differ in the three states (gas, liquid, solid).
Students know that solids, liquids, and gases (each) display unique properties characteristic of that particular state (phase) of matter.
Students also know that the characteristics of particular states influence the functional applications of a given material.

3.P.2.3 Summarize changes that occur to the observable properties of materials when different degrees of heat are applied to them, such as melting ice or ice cream, boiling water or an egg, or freezing water.

When heat is applied to an object the particles in that object begin to vibrate more rapid. They also begin to move further apart. As the
particles move further apart the object may change from one state to another (solid to liquid, liquid to gas). Students know that heating or cooling matter will alter the properties of that matter.

Matter is anything that has weight and takes up space. Matter exists in three main states: solids, liquids and gases. All matter is made of tiny particles, but the particles behave differently in the three states. In the solid state, the particles are closely aligned and connected. In the liquid state, the particles are separated and slide around. In the gas state, they move freely and are far apart.

Matter Matching Cards (PDF)

Matter Matching Cards Zipped File

(Will automatically download a zipped file with all the matching cards in .png format to your computer. You can open it with winzip or another file decompresser.)

Worksheets & Activities

States of Matter Google Slides Activity

Properties of Matter Worksheet

States of Matter Worksheet

Videos about Matter

Kids’ Science Channels

SciShow Kids

Crash Course Kids

Science Max

National Geographic Kids

UNC-TV At Home Learning Television (PBS)

PBS Learning Materials (States of Matter)

What’s Matter? Crash Course Kids

Part(icles) of Your World (Crash Course Kids)

Wood, Water, and Properties (Crash Course Kids)

The Science of Lunch (Crash Course Kids)

States of matter for kids – What are the states of matter? Solid, liquid and gas (Smile and Learn)

Changing Water: States of Matter (southeastwater)

States of Matter- how applying heat/cold can change states (Happy Learning)

What is Matter? (The Dr. Bionics Show)

Learning Materials & Resources

Online Resources

PBS Learning Media/UNC-TV:

Physical Sciences: Matter and Interactions

Explore motion, energy, light, and more in Physical Science. Engineering design can be introduced through a video on “Funny Boats,” potential and kinetic energy can be investigated with catapults and roller coasters, and sound waves can be experimented with using the resources in Physical Science. Additional topics include the periodic table, thunder and lightning, and the electromagnetic spectrum.

Durham Public Library:

Books and Written Materials

Durham Public Library

Search:

Properties of Matter

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Grade Level Standards: What Should Kids Learn in Each Grade?

(Kindergarten – 5th Grade)

Kindergarten: Things Move!

FORCES AND MOTION: THINGS MOVE

(NCDPI Kindergarten Grade Science Unpacking Documents, PDF)

K.P.1 Understand the positions and motions of objects and organisms observed in the environment.

K.P.1.1 Compare the relative position of various objects observed in the classroom and outside using position words such as: in front of, behind, between, on top of, under, above, below and beside.

Students know that their senses are used to make observations and learn about their environment.
Students know that the position of an object can be described by locating the object relative to another object, fixed point, or background.
Students know the difference between words used to describe the location of an object such as: (in front of, behind, between, on top of, under, above, below, beside) and can communicate using oral language so that all observers can agree on the position of an object in relation to another object.

K.P.1.2 Give examples of different ways objects and organisms move (to include falling to the ground when dropped):

Straight
Zigzag
Round and round
Back and forth
Fast and slow

Students know the various ways that living and nonliving things can move, to include falling to the ground when dropped unless something holds them up.
Students know that earth pulls down on all objects.
Students know how to observe, describe, and discuss all kinds of moving things—themselves, insects, birds, trees, doors, rain, fans, swings, volleyballs, wagons, etc.—keeping notes, drawing pictures to suggest their
motion.
Students know how to raise questions about the movement of various organisms to include: Do they move in a straight line or zigzag? Is their motion fast or slow? How can you tell? How many ways does an organism move?

1st Grade: Pushes, Pulls, and Magnets

FORCES AND MOTION: PUSHES, PULLS & MAGNETS

(NCDPI 1st Grade Science Unpacking Documents, PDF)

1.P.1 Understand how forces (pushes or pulls) affect the motion of an object.

1.P.1.1 Explain the importance of a push or pull to changing the motion of an object.

Students know a force is a push or pull.
Students know a force, a push or a pull, can change the motion of an object in three ways: go faster, slower or change the direction of the motion.
Students know a force (push or pull) is needed to start objects moving, keep objects moving or stop objects that are moving.

1.P.1.2 Explain how some forces (pushes and pulls) can be used to make things move without touching them, such as magnets.

Students know magnets exert an unseen force that makes some things move without touching them.
Students know magnets have poles that attract or repel each other.

1.P.1.3 Predict the effect of a given force on the motion of an object, including balanced forces.

Students know the size of the change in motion of an object is based on the amount of force applied to the object.
Students know that balance is associated with position and weight.

2nd Grade: Sound and Vibration

FORCES AND MOTION: SOUND AND VIBRATION

(NCDPI 2nd Grade Science Unpacking Documents: PDF)

2.P.1 Understand the relationship between sound and vibrating objects.

2.P.1.1 Illustrate how sound is produced by vibrating objects and columns of air.

Students know that vibrating objects produce sound.
Students know that sound can be described in terms of pitch, which may be higher or lower.
Students know that the length of an air column determines if its pitch is high or low.
Students know that the shorter the air column is, the higher the pitch is.
Students also know that the longer the air column is, the lower the pitch.

2.P.1.2 Summarize the relationship between sound and objects of the body that vibrate – eardrum and vocal cords.

Students know parts of the body vibrate in order to produce and receive sound. Our voices produce sound when air from the lungs passes over our vocal cords and makes them vibrate. The pitch and volume of the sounds humans can produce are changed by changing the properties of the vocal cords.
Students know that sound waves are collected by the outer ear, which helps to funnel sound to the eardrum. The eardrum vibrates when sound waves hit it, and causes the tiny bones in the middle ear to vibrate as well. The vibrations move through the bones to the inner ear where the sounds are changed into a form that is understood by the brain.

3rd Grade: Speed & Gravity

FORCES AND MOTION: SPEED & GRAVITY

(NCDPI 3rd Grade Science Unpacking Documents, PDF)

3.P.1 Understand motion and factors that affect motion.

3.P.1.1 Infer changes in speed or direction resulting from forces acting on an object.

Students know that when a force acts on an object it will result in a change of speed and / or direction.

3.P.1.2 Compare the relative speeds (faster or slower) of objects that travel the same distance in different amounts of time.

Students know that speed can vary.
Students know that varying the speed of a moving object will affect the time it takes for the object to travel a particular distance.

3.P.1.3 Explain the effects of earth’s gravity on the motion of any object on or near the earth.

Students know that the earth ‘pulls’ on all objects on or near the earth without touching those objects.

4th Grade: Magnets and Electricity

FORCES AND MOTION: MAGNETS & ELECTRICITY

(NCDPI 4th Grade Science Unpacking Documents, PDF)

4.P.1 Explain how various forces affect the motion of an object.

4.P.1.1 Explain how magnets interact with all things made of iron and with other magnets to produce motion without touching them.

Students know that a magnet pulls on all things made of iron without touching them, and that this pulling can result in motion.
Students know that a magnet attracts some metals, but not all of them.
Students know that a magnet has a force field and poles that determine how a metal affected by the magnet will behave within its field.

4.P.1.2 Explain how electrically charged objects push or pull on other electrically charged objects and produce motion.

Students know that an object that has been electrically charged pulls or pushes on all other charged objects and that this can result in motion.
Students know that electrical charges can result in attraction, repulsion or electrical discharge.

5th Grade: Gravity, Friction, and Mass

FORCES AND MOTION: GRAVITY, FRICTION & MASS

(NCDPI 5th Grade Science Unpacking Documents, PDF)

5.P.1 Understand force, motion and the relationship between them.

5.P.1.1 Explain how factors such as gravity, friction, and change in mass affect the motion of objects.

Students know that gravity pulls any object on or near the earth toward it without touching it.
Students know that friction is a force that is created anytime two surfaces move or try to move across each other.
Students know that all matter has mass.
Students understand that changing any or all of these factors will affect the motion of an object.

5.P.1.2 Infer the motion of objects in terms of how far they travel in a certain amount of time and the direction in which they travel.

Students know that it is possible to measure the motion of an object based on the distance it will travel in a certain amount of time.

5.P.1.3 Illustrate the motion of an object using a graph to show a change in position over a period of time.

Students know that a graph can be created using one axis to represent the distance that an object travels, and the other axis to represent the period of time the object is traveling.
Students know how to construct a graph that demonstrates a relation of distance to time.

5.P.1.4 Predict the effect of a given force or a change in mass on the motion of an object.

Students know that the greater a force is, the greater the change (in motion) it produces. The greater the mass of the object being acted on, the less the effect of the (same) force.

Force and Motion Matching Cards (PDF)

Boardmaker Symbols (PDF)