Grade 3 Investigating Changes of State: Observation Activity

How to Play

• Give each student or pair a small cup with an ice cube (or run this as a station students rotate through during the lesson). Have students complete the prediction step before the ice is distributed, then check back at the 5, 10, and 20 minute marks for them to draw and describe what they observe. Finish with the four reasoning questions, either independently or discussed as a class. If ice isn't practical to bring into the classroom that day, the teacher note explains how to run the same activity using a video or photo sequence instead.

Variations

• Turn this into a simple class investigation by placing identical ice cubes in different locations around the room (in direct sun, in shade, near a fan) and having groups compare which one melts fastest and discuss why.

Teacher Tips

Clear plastic cups make it easiest for students to see the melting process from the side as well as from above — this small change makes a noticeable difference in how much detail students include in their drawings.

Learning Objectives

• Students will be able to make and test a prediction about a change of state.
• Students will be able to record observations of a solid changing to a liquid over time.
• Students will be able to identify the states of matter present at the start and end of an investigation.
• Students will be able to explain what causes a change of state, using the idea of temperature.

Differentiation

Support: Provide sentence starters for the observation boxes (for example, "The ice is now ___") and allow students to describe their observations verbally to a partner who scribes for them.
On-level: Students complete all four observation checkpoints and reasoning questions independently.
Challenge: Students complete the fast-finishers extension comparing a second liquid, and are asked to justify their reasoning using the words particle, temperature, and energy.

Assessment

There is no single fixed answer key for this activity, since predictions and observations will vary by student and by conditions in the room. Use the States of Matter Grading Rubric's "Recording Observations" criterion to assess the quality of each student's predictions, observations, and reasoning.

What's Included

• 2-page observation activity (Word document)
• Print-ready PDF version

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