Teaching the Concepts of Matter

By
Dr. Eliot Kumassah
Key Concepts to Cover
• Mass: The amount of matter in an object.
• Volume: The amount of space an object occupies.
• Density: How tightly packed the particles are in a
substance.
• Temperature: A measure of the average kinetic energy
of particles, which affects the state of matter.
• Phase changes: Transitions between states of matter
like melting, freezing, evaporation, condensation, and
sublimation.
Important Considerations
• Age-appropriate explanations: Tailor the complexity
of the concepts to the students' grade level.
• Engage students with questions: Encourage
curiosity by asking open-ended questions about
everyday observations related to matter.
• Connect to real-world examples: Relate the
concepts of matter to familiar situations like cooking,
weather, and everyday objects.
The Concept of Matter
• Matter: matter is anything that takes up space and has
mass. Meaning everything you can see and touch is
considered matter, including air, water, and even the
chair you sit on.
• Particle nature: Matter is made up of tiny particles
called atoms and molecules that are constantly moving.
• States of matter: Matter exists in three main states:
solid, liquid, and gas, with the difference primarily
based on how tightly packed the particles are and how
much they move
What do teachers need to know
• Understanding the properties of substances is
fundamental for teaching science effectively. A
substance is what something is made up of and its state
(solid, liquid or gas) determines its physical properties.
• Solids have a fixed shape and volume, whereas liquids
have no fixed shape but retain a fixed volume. Gases,
on the other hand, have neither a fixed shape nor
volume and will expand to fill any available space.
• At a microscopic level, all matter consists of tiny particles, usually too
small to be seen with the naked eye. In solids, these particles are
arranged in a regular pattern due to strong forces pulling them
together, causing them to vibrate around a fixed point.
• In liquids, particles are close together but randomly
arranged, with moderately strong forces allowing them
to move around each other.
• In gases, the particles are spread out as much as the
space allows, with almost no forces holding them
together, resulting in constant movement in all
directions.
• Matter can change states between solid, liquid, and gas
forms when influenced by changes in temperature or
pressure. These changes occur through processes such
as melting, freezing, condensation, evaporation,
sublimation and deposition.
• For example, in the water cycle, water continuously
moves through these processes, evaporating,
condensing, precipitating and collecting, demonstrating
how matter changes states in the natural world.
What do learners need to know?
• The following bullet points highlight what learners need to
understand about the basic properties of solids, liquids, and
gases to build a strong foundation in science:
• Within the ‘States of Matter’, learners should understand
that;
• Solids have a fixed shape and volume, meaning they will
keep their shape even when moved to a different container.
• Liquids, however, do not have a fixed shape but do have a
fixed volume, taking on the shape of whatever container they
are poured into.
• Gases have neither a fixed shape nor a fixed volume and will
spread out to fill any available space.
What do learners need to know?
Cont….
• Some materials can change between solid, liquid, and
gas states when they are heated or cooled. This
happens through processes such as freezing, melting,
condensing and evaporating.
• An important example of these changes is the water
cycle, where water continuously moves through
evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.
• Evaporation can occur at any temperature above the
freezing point of a substance, but the process happens
more quickly as the temperature increases
Five creative ways to teach the
states of matter without Lecturing
• Introduce key vocabulary
• Work practically
• Demonstrate changing states
• Challenge thinking
• Explicitly teach working scientifically skills
• Scientific enquiry
• Use diagrams and models

• Engage Students with Interactive Models

• Add Fun with Games and Activities
• Integrate Technology into Lessons
• Inspire Students Through Career References
• Connect Topic to Real-World Applications
 Introduce key vocabulary
• It’s important to make sure children have a solid grasp of the key
vocabulary used within each lesson. I like to use vocabulary
cards as matching games or as flashcards alongside teaching the
definitions explicitly to the children as part of my teaching input.
Work practically
• Give children a range of everyday materials and ask
them to sort them into solids, liquids and gases. Ask
children to explain why they have categorised each
material.
• Discussions like these encourage children to reason and
explain their thinking, helping them to develop a deeper
understanding of the properties of each state.
Demonstrate changing states
• Start with something simple, like asking children to hold
an ice cube in their hands and watch it melt. You can
take it further by melting chocolate, freezing water, or
boiling a kettle.
• I always ask children to predict what will happen before
we start - Can we turn water vapour back into liquid
water? Does water disappear when it evaporates? Their
ideas and explanations can often reveal misconceptions
that we can tackle head-on.
Interactive demonstrations
• Ice melting: Show how ice (solid) turns into water
(liquid) when heated, illustrating the change in particle
arrangement.
• Boiling water: Demonstrate how water vapor (gas)
forms when water is heated, showing the increased
particle movement.
• Balloon inflation: Explain how air (gas) fills a balloon,
demonstrating that gases take up space
Visual aids
• Particle diagrams: Use diagrams to show how
particles are arranged differently in solids, liquids, and
gases.
• Molecular models: Utilize physical models to
represent molecules and their interactions
Hands-on activities
• Sorting activity: Have students categorize everyday
objects based on whether they are solids, liquids, or
gases.
• Density experiments: Explore the concept of density
by comparing the mass of different volumes of
materials.
• "Mystery" substance exploration: Provide students
with unknown substances and ask them to identify their
state of matter based on their properties.
Challenge thinking
• Some materials don’t fit neatly into one category,
sparking rich scientific discussion. Introducing Oobleck,
slime or shaving foam sparks curiosity and questioning -
Is it a solid? A liquid? – providing an excellent
opportunity for scientific debate.
Explicitly teach working
scientifically skills
• Using scientific equipment can be challenging for
children, so I introduce thermometers and stopwatches
in a separate lesson before completing an investigation
to ensure they feel confident in collecting results.
• I model these skills using a visualiser slide in my
PowerPoint, ensuring that when it comes to
investigating how temperature affects melting or
evaporation, they feel confident in collecting precise
results.
Scientific enquiry
• Once children are familiar with the equipment, they can
begin exploring a scientific question. In this lesson, they
investigate the effect of temperature on the melting of
ice. They prepare containers of water at varying
temperatures and measure the time it takes for an ice
cube to melt.
Use diagrams and models
• Some concepts, such as evaporation and condensation,
can be difficult to visualise, so illustrating these with
diagrams alongside explanations is highly effective.
• I use dual coding, beginning with a puddle of water on a
sunny day and combining my verbal teaching input with
basic visuals, to guide children through the process step
by step.
 Engage Students with
Interactive Models
• Gaining a deep understanding of the state of matter necessitates
students to visualize the complex internal structure, specifically how
atoms are arranged within a substance. While textbooks offer some two-
dimensional visuals, comprehending the interconversion of states can be
effectively achieved through live three-dimensional models.
• Integrating interactive models into the classroom greatly enhances the
teaching of states of matter. These models provide students with a visual
and interactive representation of the different states of matter, enabling
them to explore and understand the topic in a more immersive way.
• One notable example of such interactive models is Labster’s simulation
on States of Matter. This simulation allows students to manipulate
molecules, observe phase changes, and investigate the properties of
solids, liquids, and gases. With this interactive approach, students
develop a deeper understanding of the topic and grasp the nuances of
the different states of matter.
Integrate Technology into
Lessons
• Technology offers numerous advantages when teaching
states of matter. Virtual reality (VR) or simulation can
transport students into immersive virtual environments
where they can interact with particles and witness the
behavior of different states of matter firsthand.
• With online simulations, like Labster's
States of Matter Simulation, you can provide a virtual
laboratory experience where students can explore and
conduct experiments in a safe and controlled environment.
For instance, in our states of simulation, students observe
the 3D molecular configuration of each state of matter, and
how it alters during the phase
Add Fun with Games and
Activities
• Science lectures, when prolonged, can become monotonous and hinder students'
interest and active participation. To combat this, educators can inject fun and
excitement into the lessons by incorporating games and activities.
• By doing so, you cannot only capture students' attention but also create an interactive
learning environment that encourages hands-on exploration and reinforces their
understanding of the topic. You can design and play multiple games to teach states of
matter such as:
• State Sorting Game: Write few objects names on the cards. Then, ask students turn
by turn to pick up the card and identify the class object belongs to. Ask questions
related to object’s molecular structure and why it belongs to a particular state of matter.
• States of Matter Trivia: Present students with descriptions or properties of various
substances and ask them to determine the state of matter each substance represents.
This game challenges their understanding of the characteristics of different states.
• Particle Motion Simulation: Students interact with a simulation that demonstrates
the movement of particles in each state of matter. They can control variables like
temperature and observe how it affects the behavior and arrangement of particles.
Inspire Students Through
Career References
• By providing career reference regarding states of matter, you
can inspire students and make the subject more relevant and
exciting. For example, you can mention that the careers in
materials science, chemical engineering, and environmental
science rely on a deep understanding of states of matter.
• To further ignite their interest, you can invite field experts as
guest speakers to share how their classroom learned concepts
are used in the industry.
• By showcasing these career opportunities, you can help
students see learning about states of matter can open doors to
various fascinating fields. This further motivates them to
explore the subject further own their own.
 Connect Topic to Real-World Applications /
Make real-world connections
• One of the best ways to make learning stick is to apply it to real-world contexts. Why
does the bathroom mirror fog up after a shower? Do puddles disappear after it rains?
These everyday observations help children apply their knowledge beyond the classroom.
• Students are naturally curious about the practical relevance and future applications of
the subjects they study. They often ask themselves, "Why am I studying this?" and "How
will it benefit me in the future?"
• However, educators sometimes unintentionally overlook these questions, leaving
students without a clear understanding of the practical relevance of their studies. As a
result, students may struggle to see the connections between what they learn in the
classroom and its real-world applications.
• Highlighting the real-world applications of states of matter can help students grasp the
significance and practicality of the topic. For instance, the knowledge regarding gases is
crucial in fields such as atmospheric science and engineering. While the study of
properties of liquids is essential for industries like pharmaceuticals and food processing.
• By citing these applications, students realize and appreciate how states of matter
concepts are applied in everyday life.
Final Thoughts
• Incorporating multiple teaching methods, such as
interactive models, activities, technology, career
exploration, and real-world applications, is helpful for
effectively teaching states of matter.
• By embracing these approaches, educators can create a
dynamic and engaging learning environment that
promotes a deeper understanding and long-lasting
enthusiasm for the topic