Science 3

Quarter 1 - Module 1

Solid, Liquids, and Gases:

What’s the Matter?

Cape, Krystel Jan B.

Camansi, Stephen Zeh

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 Lesson Objectives

What I Need to Know

Have you ever wondered why water turns into ice when placed in the freezer? Or why
the ice in your drink slowly melts on a hot day? Every day, we see materials change in different
ways—water evaporating under the sun, butter melting on warm bread, or even a candle
solidifying after being blown out. These changes happen because of temperature!

In this lesson, we will explore the different types of materials around us and classify
them as solid, liquid, or gas based on their observable properties. You will also discover how
materials change when exposed to heat or cold, such as how ice turns into water or how water
turns into steam. By understanding these changes, you will better appreciate the science
behind everyday things!

So, are you ready to become a young scientist and investigate the world of solids,
liquids, and gases? Let’s begin!

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• Identify and describe objects as solid, liquid, or gas based on their observable
properties.
• Classify common objects found at home and school into solids, liquids, and
gases.
• Appreciate the importance of understanding the properties of different
materials in daily life.
• Practice responsibility in handling materials properly based on their
properties.

Preparation

What I Know

Before we learn something new, let’s take a moment to recall what we already know
about materials around us.

Every day, we see and use different objects—water in a glass, ice in a freezer, and the air
we breathe. These objects come in different forms: solid, liquid, or gas.

Let’s do a quick activity to refresh your memory!

Activity 1: Solid, Liquid, or Gas?

Directions: Look at the pictures below. Identify whether ach object is a solid, liquid, or
gas. Write your answers in the blank.

1.

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2.

3.

Great job! Now that we remember the three states of matter, let’s dive into our new lesson!

Presentation

What’s New

Imagine you are holding a piece of ice in your hand. It feels cold, hard, and solid.
But as you keep holding it, something happens—it begins to melt! Soon, it turns into a small
puddle of water in your palm.

Now, let’s say you leave that water under the hot sun. What do you think will happen next?
That’s right! It will eventually disappear as it turns into gas, rising into the air.

 Why did the ice change? Where did the water go?
 What makes these changes happen?

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  Can these changes be reversed?

These are all clues about something important in science: the different states of matter and
how they change!

What Is It?

States of Matter: Understanding Solids, Liquids, and Gases

Matter is anything that has mass and takes up space (Chang, 2021). Everything
around us—air, water, rocks, and even our own bodies—is made up of matter. But matter
doesn’t always look the same. It can exist in three common states: solid, liquid, and gas.
These states have different properties based on how their particles are arranged and how they
move.

Solids

A solid is a type of matter that has a fixed shape and volume. This means that no matter
what container you put it in, it will not change its shape unless you apply force (such as
cutting or breaking it) (Brown & Lemay, 2020).

• Examples: Ice, rocks, books, chairs, pencils, and even your own body.
• Why? In a solid, the particles are tightly packed together and vibrate in place. This
is why solids feel hard and firm.

Liquids

A liquid is a type of matter that has a fixed volume but no fixed shape (Smith et al.,
2019). This means that when you pour water into a glass, it takes the shape of the glass, but
its volume stays the same.

• Examples: Water, milk, juice, cooking oil, and even melted ice cream.
• Why? The particles in a liquid are loosely packed and can move around, allowing
the liquid to flow and change shape.

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Gases

A gas is a type of matter that has no fixed shape and no fixed volume. It can spread out
to fill the entire space available (Atkins & Jones, 2018).

• Examples: Air, steam, smoke, and the oxygen we breathe.

• Why? The particles in a gas are far apart and move freely, which is why gases can
expand and fill any container.

Changes in States of Matter

Matter can change from one state to another when temperature changes. Here are some
common changes:

1. Melting (Solid to Liquid) – When heat is applied to a solid (like ice), it melts into a
liquid (water).
2. Freezing (Liquid to Solid) – When a liquid loses heat, it turns into a solid (water
freezing into ice).

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 3. Evaporation (Liquid to Gas) – When a liquid is heated, it changes into gas (water
turning into steam).
4. Condensation (Gas to Liquid) – When gas cools down, it turns back into liquid
(water droplets forming on a cold glass).

Why Is This Important?

Understanding the states of matter helps us explain many things in our daily lives—
why ice melts, why water evaporates, and why we can feel the air even though we can’t see
it. This knowledge is also useful in science, cooking, weather patterns, and many other
real-world situations (Peterson, 2021).

Now that we understand solids, liquids, and gases, let’s explore some activities to deepen
our learning!

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 Production

What’s More
Exercises to Reinforce Learning

To help you master the concept of matter and its states, let’s engage in different
activities that will challenge your understanding and allow you to explore further!

Activity 1: Sort It Out! (Classification Activity)

Classify objects into solid, liquid, or gas based on their properties.

Instructions: Look at the objects in the table and think about their properties. Decide If each
object is solid, liquid, or gas. Put a ✔ in the correct column. Then, answer the question
below the table.

Object Solid Liquid Gas

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Observation Question:

How did you determine which objects belong to solids, liquids, or gases?

Activity 2: Complete the Thought (Fill in the Blanks)

Reinforce important concepts about matter and its properties.

Instructions: Fill in the blanks with the correct word: solid, liquid, or gas.

1. Water is an example of a because it takes the shape of its container.

2. A book is a because it has a definite shape and volume.
3. The air we breathe is a because it spreads out and fills any available space.
4. Honey is a because it flows but has a definite volume.
5. The smoke coming from a burning candle is a because it moves freely in
the air.

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Activity 3: Match the Changes! (Matching Type)

Objective: Understand the changes in states of matter caused by temperature.

Instructions: Match Column A (examples of state changes) with Column B (correct

process name).
Column A (Example) Column B (State Change)
1. Ice melting into water A. Condensation
2. Water turning into steam B. Freezing
3. Water droplets forming on a cold glass C. Melting
4. Water turning into solid ice D. Evaporation

Activity 4: Matter in Action! (Experiment / Observation)

Objective: Observe and describe real-life examples of state changes.

Instructions:

1. Choose one of the following simple experiments to try at home:

o Option A: Freeze water in a cup and observe what happens after 3 hours.
o Option B: Boil a small amount of water and observe the steam.
o Option C: Place an ice cube outside in the sun and observe how it melts.
2. Answer the following:
o What did you observe?
o What state change occurred?
o Why do you think this change happened?

What I Have Learned

You have explored the different states of matter and how materials change from one
form to another. Matter can be classified into solids, liquids, and gases based on their
observable properties. Solids have a definite shape and volume, liquids take the shape of their
containers, and gases spread out freely.

You also learned that temperature plays a key role in changing the state of matter.
Heat can turn a solid into a liquid (melting) or a liquid into a gas (evaporation). On the other
hand, cooling can cause a gas to turn into a liquid (condensation) or a liquid to turn into a
solid (freezing). These changes in state are reversible and occur in our daily lives, such as
when ice melts, water boils, or clothes dry under the sun.

Now, let's reflect on your learning!

Guide Questions:

1. Can you give an example of a situation where you see matter changing from one
state to another in your daily life?
2. Why do you think it is important to understand the different states of matter and their
changes?

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Assessment

A. Multiple Choice (Encircle the letter of the correct answer.)

1. Which state of matter has a definite shape and volume?

A. Gas
B. Solid
C. Liquid
D. Plasma
2. What happens when water is heated until it turns into steam?
A. Freezing
B. Condensation
C. Evaporation
D. Melting
3. Which statement is true about liquids?
A. They have a fixed shape and volume.
B. They take the shape of their container but have a definite volume.
C. They can be compressed easily.
D. They have no mass.
4. What process occurs when a gas turns into a liquid?
A. Melting
B. Sublimation
C. Condensation
D. Evaporation
5. Ice cubes left at room temperature will eventually melt. What state change occurs?
A. Liquid to gas
B. Solid to liquid
C. Gas to liquid
D. Liquid to solid

B. True or False (Write T if the statement is true, and F if it is false.)

6. Solids take the shape of their container.

7. Liquids have a definite volume but no definite shape.
8. Gases can spread out to fill any available space.
9. When a solid melt, it turns into a gas immediately.
10. Boiling is a process where liquid changes into gas due to heat.

C. Short Answer (Answer in one or two sentences.)

11. What are the three states of matter?

12. What is condensation? Give an example.

13. What happens when a liquid is cooled enough to become solid?

14. Describe sublimation and give an example.

15. How can water exist in all three states of matter?

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Answer Key

Activity 1: Sort It Out!

1. Liquid
2. Solid
3. Gas
4. Solid
5. Solid

Activity 2: Complete the Thought

1. Liquid
2. Solid
3. Gas
4. Liquid
5. Gas

Activity 3: Match the Changes!

1. C. Melting
2. D. Evaporation
3. A. Condensation
4. B. Freezing

Assessment

A.
1. B
2. C
3. B
4. C
5. B
B.
1. F
2. T
3. T
4. F
5. T

Congratulations on completing this module on the states of matter! You have learned
how to classify materials as solids, liquids, or gases and explored how temperature affects
their changes. These concepts are not just found in textbooks but are present in your daily
life—from the ice melting in your drink to the steam rising from a hot cup of coffee.

Science is all about curiosity and discovery. Keep observing the world around you,
ask questions, and experiment with what you have learned. The knowledge you gain today
will help you understand the wonders of nature and how everything around us works.

Keep up the great work, and always stay eager to learn!

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References

• Department of Education (DepEd). (2020). Grade 3 Science Most Essential

Learning Competencies (MELCs). Retrieved from https://www.teacherph.com/grade-
3-science-melcs/
• Hewitt, P. G. (2014). Conceptual Physics (12th ed.). Pearson Education. ISBN:
9780321909107. Available at https://www.pearson.com/en-us/subject-
catalog/p/conceptual-physics/P200000007424/9780321909107
• LibreTexts. (2023). States of Matter. Retrieved from https://chem.libretexts.org/
• NASA. (n.d.). States of Matter in Space. Retrieved from https://www.nasa.gov/
• OpenStax. (2021). Chemistry. Rice University. Retrieved from https://openstax.org/

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