Grade Levels: K-3

*Click to open and customize your own copy of the Changing States of Matter Lesson Plan

This lesson accompanies the BrainPOP Jr. topic Changing States of Matter, and supports the standard of describing and classifying different kinds of materials by their observable properties. Students demonstrate understanding through a variety of projects.

Step 1: ACTIVATE PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

Display a picture of an ice cream cone, like this:

Ask: 

  • What is happening to the ice cream in this picture? Why is it happening?
  • What might happen if the ice cream stays in the sun?

Step 2: BUILD KNOWLEDGE

  • Play the Changing States of Matter movie.  
  • Click the pause button each time a question appears in Annie’s Notebook and discuss it as a class. Then play to see how Annie answers it. 

TIP: The pause button turns red to remind you to pause. 

Step 3: APPLY and ASSESS

Students take the Easy Quiz or Hard Quiz, demonstrating what they learned about the topic while applying essential literacy skills.

Step 4: DEEPEN and EXTEND

Students express what they learned about changing states of matter while practicing essential literacy skills with one or more of the following activities. Differentiate by assigning ones that meet individual student or grade-level needs.

  • Draw About It: Draw an example of a solid that can melt into a liquid.
  • Activity: Conduct an experiment to explore a part of the water cycle.
  • Talk About It: Describe examples of places you’ve seen matter change. 
  • Write About It: Explain what happens to puddles after it rains. 

More to Explore 

Matter Unit: Continue to build understanding around matter by exploring more BrainPOP Jr. topics.

Teacher Support Resources: