Year 4

Science
States of Matter
 States of Matter
Our new topic we are going to
be learning about in science is
‘States of Matter’

What do you think the States

of Matter are?
 Three States of Matter
The three states of matter are:

Solids, Liquids & Gases.

Watch the following video to help you understand

the different states.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zkgg87h/articl
es/zsgwwxs
 Solids
The properties of solids include:
• Solids stay in one place and can be held.
• Solids keep their shape. They do not flow like
liquids.
• Solids always take up the same amount of
space. They do not spread out like gases.
• Solids can be cut or shaped.

Even though they can be poured, sugar, salt

and flour are all solids. Each particle of salt,
for example, keeps the same shape and volume.
 Liquids

The properties of liquids include:

• Liquids can flow or be poured easily. They
are not easy to hold.
• Liquids change their shape depending on the
container they are in.
• Even when liquids change their shape, they
always take up the same amount of space.
Their volume stays the same.
 Gases

The properties of gases include:

• Gases are often invisible.

• Gases do not have a fixed shape. They
spread out and change their shape and
volume to fill up whatever container they are
in.
• Gases can be squashed.
Can you find any examples of
solids, liquids or gases in your
household or garden etc?
Activity 1- Solids and liquids
sorting activity.

Cut out or write down

the properties and match
them to the correct state.
Everything is made of
particles.

Watch the following video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuP5FmFcPmY
 Solids, Liquids & Gases

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/clips/zpbvr82
 Activity 2-
Worksheet

Complete the worksheet. If

there are any questions
you have found difficult
or do not know the
answer, see if you can
research the answer.
 Changing State- Freezing and
Melting

• Some materials can ‘change state’.

Solids and liquids can be changed
from one state to another by
heating or cooling.
• Heat melts a solid and turns it into
a liquid. Cooling freezes a liquid
into a solid.
 Melting
When a substance
changes from a
solid to a liquid
we say it melts.
Substances need
heat to do this.
E.g. ice melts to
form water at 0
degrees.
Every substance has
its own, different
melting point. Milk
chocolate melts at
around 40 degrees..
 Freezing
• This is when a
substance turns
from a liquid into
a solid.
• They need to be
cooled to do this.
• It is the opposite
of melting
• It happens at the
same temperature
as melting
Watch the following clip to help
understand these processes
clearer.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zkgg87h/a
rticles/z9ck9qt
In a solid , the particles have little energy and are packed tightly
together. This causes solids to tend to keep their shape.

When we heat a solid, we are giving the particles more energy.

When the particles get enough energy, they stop being packed
together and start to slide over one another. The solid has
become a liquid. When a solid is heated and changes state to
become a liquid, it is called melting. The temperature at which
this happens is called the melting point. Melting points very from
material
to material. The melting point of water is 0°C.

If we keep on adding energy to this liquid, eventually the

particles will have enough energy to change state again and
become a gas. When a liquid becomes a gas, this is called
evaporation. However, the temperature at which the bulk of the
liquid boils into a gas is called the boiling point.
 Activity 3- Research project
For this activity, I would like you to research
and find the answers to the questions on
activity sheet 3.
 Activity 4- Worksheet

Find the missing pieces of information and

complete some of the research to find the
melting points of different materials.
 All water moves continuously and is recycled
over and over again! This is called the water
cycle.
The water cycle is vital in supporting all life
on earth. Without it, nothing would grow or
survive.

Do you know any of the stages of the water

cycle?

Watch the video to see the Water Cycle in action:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zkgg87h/articles/z3wpp39
 Evaporation
Evaporation is when water in
oceans, lakes, or other bodies
of water is warmed up by the
Sun.
Heat causes the water particles
to move quickly. They move
further apart, until they move
so far apart that they become
a gas instead of a liquid. The
water becomes water vapour.
Can you name any other
bodies of water?
Condensation
Eventually the water vapour
condenses into clouds.
This means that the particles
in the water vapour slow
down and cool off, resulting
in them becoming water
droplets. These water droplets
group together to form
clouds.
Can you think of any other
times when water vapour
becomes water droplets?
Precipitation
When enough water droplets
group together inside
clouds, they become heavy
enough to fall towards the
Earth.
This usually falls as rain,
but precipitation can also
occur as snow, hail, or
sleet depending on the
temperature.
Collection (Run off)
Run off is when water
travels across land. Rain
will land in the ground,
streets, oceans, and in
streams and rivers.

Eventually it collects in a
body of water. After a
while, the water is
evaporated, and the water
cycle starts again!
 Water Cycle Break Down
Water on Earth is constantly moving. It is recycled over and over again. This
recycling process is called the water cycle.

• 1. Water evaporates into the air

• The sun heats up water on land, in rivers, lakes and seas and turns it into
water vapour. The water vapour rises into the air.
• 2. Water vapour condenses into clouds
• Water vapour in the air cools down and changes back into tiny drops of liquid
water, forming clouds.
• 3. Water falls as precipitation
• The clouds get heavy and water falls back to the ground in the form of rain or
snow.
• 4. Water returns to the sea
• Rain-water runs over the land and collects in lakes or rivers, which take it back
to the sea. The cycle starts all over again.
Activity 5 – Learn the water
cycle song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWb4KlM2vt
s

Can you perform the song and send a video

to your teacher on dojo? J
Activity 6 – Draw a poster showing
all the stages of the water cycle,
with labels.
 States of matter
quiz:

Can you complete the quiz

online? If there are any questions
you are stuck on or find
difficult, try looking through the
power point again or doing some
more research on BBC bitesize to
help you.

https://www.educationquizzes.com
/ks2/science/solids-liquids-and-
gases-01/