Mr Whelan Year 4 Science

Unit: States of Matter (Chemistry)

What will your child be
learning?
The properties of the three states of
matter.
To sort common objects into the three
states.
Children will use a range of learning styles
to explore the particular arrangement
within the three states.
What temperature means.
How to use a thermometer to record
changes in temperature.
How materials change from one state to
another at different temperatures.
How water moves around the planet
through the water cycle.

Key Learning Outcomes

To know some basic properties of solids, liquids
and gases.
Provide examples of solids, liquids and gases.
To draw the particular arrangement of solids
liquids and gases.
To read a thermometer accurately.
To record temperatures in a table.
To understand the effect of temperature on the
states.
To explain in basic terms: condensation,
evaporation, freezing and melting.
To plot temperatures on a graph that has been
drawn.
To explain possible temperature changes on
temperature graphs.
To describe in basic terms the key components
of the water cycle: evaporation, condensation,
precipitation.

Key Vocabulary
Evaporation Condensation Precipitation Solid Liquid Gas
Bonds Energy Particle Vibrate Increase Decrease
Thermometer Temperature Water-Cycle States
Freezing Melting Water-Vapour

General Learning
All materials are made up of microscopic particles that we cannot see. They make up everything on our
planet. To understand states of matter we need to know how these particles are behaving.

Solids
Particular Arrangement of
Solids

Description of a Solids
Particles in a solid do not have much energy so they vibrate
in place. They cannot move. We say that the particles have
bonds between them and these are strong. Solids do not take
the shape of a container.

Properties of Solids
Examples of Solids

They keep their shape and do not change to fit a

container.
Solids do not flow like liquids.
Solids stay in one place and can be held.
Solids take up the same amount of space and cannot
be spread out like gases.

Liquids
Particular Arrangement of
Liquids

Description of a Liquid
Particles in a liquid have more energy than solids so they are
more excited. They can slip and slide over each other. We
say that the particles have weaker bonds between them
which allows them to flow and move. However, the particles
are still connected. Liquids do take the shape of their
container.

Properties of Liquids
Examples of Liquids

They can be poured.

Liquids take the shape of the container.
They take up the same amount of space (volume).
They are difficult to hold.

Gases
Particular Arrangement of a
Gas

Description of a Gases
Particles in a gas have more energy than liquids so they are
much more excited. They can slip and slide over each other.
We say that the particles have no bonds between them
which allows them to move freely. Gases take the shape of
their container.

Properties of Gases
Examples of Gases

Gases are often invisible.

Gases do not keep their shape.
Gases do not take up the same amount of space.
Gases can be squashed.

Temperature & Thermometers

Temperature is a measure of how hot or cold things are. We use a thermometer to measure temperature.

Temperature is measured in degrees Celsius (C)

Ice melts at 0C
A hot bath is about 40 C
Water boils at 100 C

Plotting points on pre-drawn axes.

Spotting results which may not be accurate.
Giving possible reasons for that temperature not being
accurate.
Giving possible reasons for temperature changes
throughout the day on different days.

Changing States
Solids, liquids and gases are called the three states of matter. Materials can be changed from one state to
another by heating or cooling.

Water can be a liquid, a solid (ice), or a gas ( water vapour)

Evaporation

Condensation

This is when a liquid turns into a gas. The particles get

more and more energy which makes them more
excited. The bonds between them break which allows
them to be free from each other.

This is when a Gas turns into a Liquid. The particles get

less and less energy which makes them less excited.
The bonds between them form which connect the
molecules together.

Freezing

Melting

This is when a Liquid turns into a Solid. The particles

have less energy which means they can only vibrate.
Bonds form between them which keeps them in place.

This is when a Solid turns into a Liquid. The particles

get more energy through heating. They get excited and
the bonds get weaker allowing them to slip and slide
over each other.

The Water Cycle

Water on the Earth is constantly moving. It is recycled over and over again. This recycling process is called the
water cycle.

B. EVAPORATION
Water evaporates into the air.
The sun heats up water on land, in rivers, lakes
and the sea. It turns it into water vapour. The
water particles get more and more energy which
then breaks the bonds. They get excited and the
water molecules break away from each other
and become a gas.

A. CONDENSATION
D. Run Off
Rain water runs over land and collects
again in the sea, lakes and rivers. The
cycle starts over again.

C.PRECIPITATION
The clouds get heavy
and water falls back to
the earth in the form of
rain or snow.

Water vapour condenses to form clouds.

Water vapour in the air cools down and
changes back into tiny droplets of liquid water,
forming clouds. The wind blows the clouds. The
water particles lose energy which makes the
bond together. They can only slip and slide over
each other as a liquid.