Family and Homeschool Activities: Solids, Liquids, and Gases

These family and homeschool activities are designed to complement the States of Matter topic on BrainPOP Jr.

State House

Walk with your child around your home and find objects that are solids, liquids, and gases. Solids can include furniture and clothing, liquids can include condiments and juices in your refrigerator, and gases can include aerosol cans such as hair sprays and air fresheners. Encourage your child to describe the properties of each kind of matter and write down his or her observations in a notebook.

Liquid Lunch

Together examine the properties of different liquids in your home and compare and contrast them. You can investigate liquids such as water, heavy cream, juice, glue, rubber cement, etc. Which liquids are thick? Which are thin? Which spread quickly on a surface? Which are clear? Which liquids are harmful (toxic) and which are healthy? Which things look solid, but can be turned into liquids? Encourage your child to write his or her observations and ideas in a Venn diagram, compare-and-contrast chart, or other graphic organizer.