PATHWAY BASED ON SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS
The state of matter: solid and liquid – exploring the change
Goals:
- Introducing the concepts „the state of matter”, „solid” and „liquid”
- Shaping the comprehension of the chemical processes underlying the state of matter change (freezing, melting, dissolving, crystallizing, solidifying);
- Exploring the function of external factors in turning the state of matter (inhibitors and catalysts such as: salt, temperature, wrapping etc.)
- Developing the skills of observing the chemical and physical processes
- Strengthening the exploratory attitudes in children
Intended Learning Outcomes
The child will be able to:
- explain the concepts of liquid / solid and differentiate between freezing, melting, crystallizing, solidifying
- participate in experiments under the supervision of a teachers
- observe the process of turning the state of matter into a different one (freezing, melting, dissolving, crystallizing, solidifying);
- draw conclusions about factors inhibiting and catalyzing the process of changing the state of matter
- design his/ her own experiments related to the topic (using materials provided by a teacher);
- reflect on his/ her own learning results
The structure of the learning pathway
Stage I
Introducing the concept „the state of matter”, „solid” and „liquid”. Introducing the scientific terms into child’s everyday language. Understanding the the process of turning the liquid into solid may take a different form (freezing, crystallizing, solidifying).
- Make your own ice-cream or (according to teachers own choice)
- Ice inferno – using experiment with ice cube and salt to prepare vanilla ice cream
- Crystal sun-catchers with recycled lids – observing the process of crystallizing and differentiating crystallizing from freezing
Stage II
Exploring the external conditions and factors influencing the state of matter changes – recognizing the 2 types of factors: inhibitors and catalysts in the process of melting the ice or chocolate and solidifying the substances
- Chocolate Science – exploring reversible change
- Don’t Melt the Ice’ Challenge – discovering the possibilities of delaying the melting process
- Biscuit Science – exploring the shape of a liquid and changes in the state of matter from solid to liquid and vice versa (with the example of baking cookies)
Stage III
Between solid and liquid – exploring unusual/ atypical substances.
- Ice cream soup (story + activity)
- Hot Ice Science Experiment – observing the process of crystallizing
Assessment
Initial – building a mind-map (What do I know about? What I would like to learn about…? – activating the prior knowledge of children
Ongoing – described in every resource
Final assessment
- Reflection with the mind map prepared at the beginning – What have we learned? What was the most intriguing? What else would we like to know about different states of matter?
- Voting for the most interesting experiment (children can put the sticker under the photo presenting their favorite experiment)
- Self-evaluation of one’s own learning process – with the chart prepared by a teacher
| 1. I can recognize liquid and solid |
| 2. I can explain when and how the solid changes into liquid |
| 3. I can delay and speed up the process of ice melting |
| 4. I can make a non-newtonian liquid |
| 5. I know what is the process of crystallizing |
| 6. I know what is „an experiment” |
| 7. I can observe and make notes |
| 8. I like to conduct scientific experiments in the preschool |
| 9. I can be a cautious scientist – I know how to behave safely in scientific laboratory |