|
|
Hi Brenda!
I found an article from Science Scope titled “An Inquiry into the Phases of Matter” by Sarah Young. In this article, students explored the phases of matter in a new and improved way driven by inquiry. In the beginning, the author states how her students tended to complain that when she introduced the topic of solids, liquids, and gases, immediately losing their interest and motivation for her lesson. However, author Young has devised a genius way to hold student’s interest through inquiry stations and investigations. Students are first broken up into groups and asked to brainstorm the qualities or characteristics that define the states of matter on the board. Then, she provides them with the following inquiry prompt: there is an alien life form named XOD that has arrived on earth who is trying to understand the differences between solids, liquids, and gases. Three stations are set up around the room with three different activities, one specific to each state of matter. For each station, the students must convince the alien with evidence why certain substances are categorized as solids, liquids, or gases by making observations with their five senses to support their exclamations.
At the first station, students find three test tubes. One with a nail, one with water, and one with salt inside. The general scenario is that since liquids flow and take shape of their container while solids do not, then the salt must be a liquid. Students must convince the alien why the salt is not a liquid but instead a solid. In the second activity, students must explain to the alien that gas is easily compressed while water is not because it is a liquid. This scenario proposes that since a sponge can easily be compressed, then it must be a gas. For the final activity, students are expected to create more thorough definitions regarding each phase of matter. Students will find three more test tubes, one with salt, one with water, and one that is empty. Students are asked to add a few drops of air freshener into the empty tube (check for allergy restrictions) to explain to XOD how they know that there is gas in the empty tube. Students must use their sense of smell to provide concrete observations. Overall, this activity not only allows students to gain a strong understanding of the phases of matter in a fun and exciting way, but it can also be used as an introduction activity for other lessons such as atomic structure, physical and chemical change, or the cycle of matter and energy matter through phases between molecules and atoms.
Young, S. (2010). An Inquiry into the Phases of Matter. Science Scope, 038 (02), 60-63. Retrieved from https://s3.amazonaws.com/nstacontent/ss1010_60.pdf?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAIMRSQAV7P6X4QIKQ&Expires=1573161674&Signature=BeQbcc%2fjUrPNJUSswzyJ%2fisAB3s%3d
|