Solids and Liquids Stations

Pamala Weber Shirley Hills, Mound, MN, based on an original activity from The Teachers Clubhouse, Science
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Initial Publication Date: September 11, 2008

Summary

In this chemistry unit, students investigate the properties of solids and liquids. They will travel from station to station filling out their station booklet.

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Learning Goals

This activity is designed for students to classify substances as a solid, liquid, or gas. They will investigate matter to explore the concepts that solids have a definite shape and that liquids take the shape of their container.

Context for Use

This activity is a series of 6 stations for exploring the properties of solids and 8 stations for exploring the properties of liquids. This can be done with the whole class.
Each student will need a booklet to record their data.

Description and Teaching Materials

The students will be divided up into 6 equal groups and will travel to each station with their group. This activity will take two weeks. One week for solids and one week for liquids.

Solids

Solid Station #1 Measuring Solids
Key Concept: Solids can be measured.
The students will measure solids in centimeters and inches and record the results.

Solid Station #2 Identifying Solids
Key Concept: Solids have a shape of their own.
The students look through magazines and find 6 solids and cut them out and glue into their booklet.

Solid Station #3 Reading about Solids
Key Concept: Reading to gather information.
The students read a text about solids and record important facts.

Solid Station #4-Weighing Solids
Key Concept: Solids have Weight
The students predict and weigh solids.

Solid Station #5- Sorting Solids
Key Concept: Solids can be sorted by their properties.
The students find two different ways to sort solids into groups.

Solid Station #6-Counting Solids
Key Concept: Solids can be counted
The students make tally marks for how many of each solid can be found in the classroom

Liquids

Solid Station #1-Measuring Liquids
Key Concept: Liquids can be measured.
The students will measure liquids in teaspoons and tablespoons and record the results.

Solid Station #2-Identifying liquids
Key Concept: Liquids take the shape of their container
The students look through magazines and find 6 liquids and cut them out and glue into their booklet.

Solid Station #3-Reading about Liquids
Key Concept: Reading to gather information.
The students read a text about liquids and record important facts.

Solid Station #4-Weighing Liquids
Key Concept: Liquids have Weight
The students predict and weigh liquids.

Solid Station #5- Sorting Solids
Key Concept: Solids can be sorted by their properties.
The students find two different ways to sort liquids into groups.

Solid Station #6-Pouring Liquids
Key Concept: Liquids can be poured
The students calculate the time it takes to pour each liquid from one container to another.

Teaching Notes and Tips


Assessment

The students will turn in their recording booklets to be graded based on the Matter Stations Rubric.

Standards

Strand- II. Physical Science
Sub-Strand- A. Structure of Matter
Standard- The student will understand that objects can be sorted and classified based on their properties.
Benchmarks
2. The student will classify a substance as a solid, liquid or gas.
3. The student will know that solids have a definite shape and that liquids take the shape of their container.
4. The students will observe that water can be a solid or liquid and can change from one state to the other.

References and Resources