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

What happens when we cool 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 cool 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: the next skill in this area.

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: popping popcorn? (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? (candle wax melting / chocolate melting in a warm hand / burning a log on a fire / water freezing into ice cubes) → burning a log on a firePrompt: Think about melting and freezing versus cooking and burning.
  3. Ice cream is left in the sun and melts. Then it is put back in the freezer. Is it the same as before? (It freezes solid again, though it may be icier and harder than before. / It burns. / It stays a liquid in the freezer. / It turns into milk powder.) → It freezes solid again, though it may be icier and harder than before.Prompt: Is melting a change that can be reversed?

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 cool 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 this cools down: hot candle wax left to cool?
  • Step 1: So the answer is: turns back into solid wax
  • Answer: turns back into solid wax
  • 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 this cools down: water in the freezer? (freezes into ice / sets hard again / turns back into solid wax / sets into a wobbly solid) → freezes into icePrompt: Cooling often turns liquids into solids, and gases into liquids.
  2. Why does a bathroom mirror steam up after a hot shower? (Warm, damp air cools on the mirror and forms tiny water drops. / Light turns into water. / Soap sticks to the mirror. / The mirror is melting.) → Warm, damp air cools on the mirror and forms tiny water drops.Prompt: Is the mirror warmer or cooler than the steamy air?

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. Why does a bathroom mirror steam up after a hot shower? (Warm, damp air cools on the mirror and forms tiny water drops. / The mirror is melting. / Soap sticks to the mirror. / Light turns into water.) → Warm, damp air cools on the mirror and forms tiny water drops.Prompt: Is the mirror warmer or cooler than the steamy air?
  2. True or false? Cooling water below 0 °C turns it into ice. (True / False) → TruePrompt: Cooling usually turns gases to liquids and liquids to solids.

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

  • 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 cool it?

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    True or false? Cooling water below 0 °C turns it into ice.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  2. Question 2

    Why does a bathroom mirror steam up after a hot shower?

    • A. Soap sticks to the mirror.
    • B. Light turns into water.
    • C. Warm, damp air cools on the mirror and forms tiny water drops.
    • D. The mirror is melting.

  3. Question 3

    What happens when this cools down: fruit juice in a lolly mould in the freezer?

    • A. turns back into solid wax
    • B. sets into a wobbly solid
    • C. becomes an ice lolly (popsicle)
    • D. sets hard again

  4. Question 4

    True or false? Steam turns back into water when it touches something cold.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  5. Question 5

    Why do ponds freeze on cold winter nights?

    • A. The water cools below 0 °C and turns to ice.
    • B. Snow falls into the pond and makes it solid all the way down.
    • C. The Moon cools the water.
    • D. The fish make ice.

  6. Question 6

    True or false? Water gets bigger and hotter when it freezes.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  7. Question 7

    Hot wax is poured into a candle mould. What must happen before you can take the candle out?

    • A. The wax must dissolve.
    • B. The wax must cool and become solid.
    • C. The wax must be heated more.
    • D. The wax must boil.

  8. Question 8

    True or false? Melted chocolate sets hard again when it cools.

    • A. True
    • B. False

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Answer key: What happens when we cool it?

  1. 1. A. True

  2. 2. C. Warm, damp air cools on the mirror and forms tiny water drops.

  3. 3. C. becomes an ice lolly (popsicle)

  4. 4. A. True

  5. 5. A. The water cools below 0 °C and turns to ice.

  6. 6. B. False

  7. 7. B. The wax must cool and become solid.

  8. 8. A. True