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Science lesson plan · 2nd grade (Year 3 in England) · 45 minutes

What happens when we heat it?

States of matter

CCSS NGSS.2-PS1-4England: KS1 Y2 Uses of everyday materialsEngland: KS2 Y4 States of matter

Objective and success criteria

Students will: What happens when we heat it?.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Heating and cooling: can the change be undone?

Leads to: Ice melting race: compare melting times

Materials: Ice, water and a kettle (teacher demo), Particle diagrams, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 5 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Heating and cooling: can the change be undone?). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Can this change be undone: burning a log on a fire? (can change back / cannot change back) → cannot change backPrompt: Could you get the starting material back by warming it or cooling it?
  2. Three of these changes CAN be undone. Which one is different? (burning a log on a fire / water freezing into ice cubes / candle wax melting / chocolate melting in a warm hand) → burning a log on a firePrompt: Think about melting and freezing versus cooking and burning.
  3. Clay is shaped into a pot and baked in a very hot kiln. Can it go back to soft clay if you add water? (Yes, if you put it in the freezer. / Yes, straight away. / Yes, if you shake it. / No, firing changes it for good.) → No, firing changes it for good.Prompt: Bricks and mugs are fired clay. Do they go soft in the rain?

Hook · 5 min

  • Show an ice cube melting and a kettle steaming and ask what is the same and what is different.
  • Share the objective: What happens when we heat it?. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 10 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: What happens when you heat this: butter in a hot pan?
  • Step 1: So the answer is: melts into a liquid
  • Answer: melts into a liquid
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 10 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. What happens when you heat this: popcorn kernels in a pan? (burst open and puff up / turns white and firm / rises and becomes a spongy solid / boils and turns to steam) → burst open and puff upPrompt: Picture it cooking or warming in the kitchen.
  2. Steam rises from a boiling pot of pasta. What is the steam? (melted metal / smoke from burning pasta / air that turned white / water that has turned into a gas) → water that has turned into a gasPrompt: What liquid is in the pot?

You do: independent practice · 10 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. What happens when you heat this: butter in a hot pan? (turns white and firm / melts into a liquid / rises and becomes a spongy solid / turns brown and crunchy) → melts into a liquidPrompt: Picture it cooking or warming in the kitchen.
  2. True or false? Heated water turns into ice. (True / False) → FalsePrompt: Some heated things melt, some cook. Can they change back?

Watch out for

  • Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
  • Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Heating and cooling: can the change be undone?.
  • Use concrete materials: ice, water and a kettle (teacher demo).
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Move on to: Ice melting race: compare melting times.
  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-2.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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What happens when we heat it?

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    True or false? Heating water enough makes it boil.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  2. Question 2

    What happens when you heat this: butter in a hot pan?

    • A. turns brown and crunchy
    • B. boils and turns to steam
    • C. melts into a liquid
    • D. turns white and firm

  3. Question 3

    A clay model is soft. How can you make it hard and strong for good?

    • A. Squash it.
    • B. Leave it in water.
    • C. Bake (fire) it in a kiln.
    • D. Put it in the fridge.

  4. Question 4

    True or false? Heating can melt some solids.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  5. Question 5

    What happens when you heat this: popcorn kernels in a pan?

    • A. boils and turns to steam
    • B. melts into a liquid
    • C. rises and becomes a spongy solid
    • D. burst open and puff up

  6. Question 6

    Steam rises from a boiling pot of pasta. What is the steam?

    • A. air that turned white
    • B. water that has turned into a gas
    • C. melted metal
    • D. smoke from burning pasta

  7. Question 7

    What happens when you heat this: a raw egg in a pan?

    • A. boils and turns to steam
    • B. turns white and firm
    • C. turns brown and crunchy
    • D. rises and becomes a spongy solid

  8. Question 8

    Why do cooks put butter in a warm pan before frying?

    • A. Heat turns butter into ice.
    • B. Butter cools the pan.
    • C. Butter turns into a gas straight away.
    • D. Heat melts the solid butter so it can spread over the pan.

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Answer key: What happens when we heat it?

  1. 1. A. True

  2. 2. C. melts into a liquid

  3. 3. C. Bake (fire) it in a kiln.

  4. 4. A. True

  5. 5. D. burst open and puff up

  6. 6. B. water that has turned into a gas

  7. 7. B. turns white and firm

  8. 8. D. Heat melts the solid butter so it can spread over the pan.