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Science lesson plan · 2nd grade (Year 3 in England) · 60 minutes

Melting, freezing, evaporating and condensing

States of matter

CCSS NGSS.2-PS1-4CCSS NGSS.5-PS1-1England: KS2 Y4 States of matter

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Melting, freezing, evaporating and condensing.

  • 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: Solids, liquids and gases

Leads to: Temperatures of water changing state; The water cycle; Heating and cooling: can the change be undone?

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 · 6 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Solids, liquids and gases). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Is orange juice a solid, a liquid or a gas? (solid / liquid / gas) → liquidPrompt: Does it keep its shape, flow, or spread out to fill a space?
  2. Sand can be poured like a liquid. Why is sand a solid? (It is yellow / It is found at the beach / It is wet / Each grain keeps its own shape) → Each grain keeps its own shapePrompt: Look at one grain with a magnifying glass.
  3. Is a wooden block a solid, a liquid or a gas? (solid / liquid / gas) → solidPrompt: Does it keep its shape, flow, or spread out to fill a space?

Hook · 6 min

  • Show an ice cube melting and a kettle steaming and ask what is the same and what is different.
  • Share the objective: Melting, freezing, evaporating and condensing. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 12 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Which change of state is this: melted wax going hard again?
  • Step 1: Freezing is a liquid turning into a solid when it is cooled.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: freezing
  • Answer: freezing
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 12 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. Which change of state is this: drops forming on a cold can taken from the fridge? (melting / freezing / evaporating / condensing) → condensingPrompt: What state does it start in, and what state does it end in?
  2. What is the name for a change from solid to liquid? (freezing / condensing / evaporating (or boiling) / melting) → meltingPrompt: Heating makes solids melt and liquids evaporate.

You do: independent practice · 17 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 · 7 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Changes of state: which statement is true? (Melting makes a substance lose mass. / The water on the outside of a cold can leaks through the metal. / Heating can make a solid melt. / Water only evaporates when it boils.) → Heating can make a solid melt.Prompt: Where does the water on a cold can come from?
  2. What is the name for a change from liquid to gas? (condensing / freezing / melting / evaporating (or boiling)) → evaporating (or boiling)Prompt: Heating makes solids melt and liquids evaporate.

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: Solids, liquids and gases.
  • 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: Temperatures of water changing state; The water cycle; Heating and cooling: can the change be undone?.
  • 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

eurekami

Melting, freezing, evaporating and condensing

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    What is the name for a change from solid to liquid?

    • A. melting
    • B. evaporating (or boiling)
    • C. condensing
    • D. freezing

  2. Question 2

    Which change of state is this: water in an ice-cube tray in the freezer?

    • A. melting
    • B. freezing
    • C. evaporating
    • D. condensing

  3. Question 3

    Changes of state: which statement is true?

    • A. The water on the outside of a cold can leaks through the metal.
    • B. Water only evaporates when it boils.
    • C. Heating can make a solid melt.
    • D. Melting makes a substance lose mass.

  4. Question 4

    Which change of state is this: dew forming on grass at night?

    • A. melting
    • B. freezing
    • C. evaporating
    • D. condensing

  5. Question 5

    What is the name for a change from liquid to gas?

    • A. evaporating (or boiling)
    • B. melting
    • C. freezing
    • D. condensing

  6. Question 6

    Which change of state is this: melted wax going hard again?

    • A. melting
    • B. freezing
    • C. evaporating
    • D. condensing

  7. Question 7

    What is the name for a change from gas to liquid?

    • A. condensing
    • B. freezing
    • C. melting
    • D. evaporating (or boiling)

  8. Question 8

    Which change of state is this: a puddle drying up in the sun?

    • A. melting
    • B. freezing
    • C. evaporating
    • D. condensing

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Answer key: Melting, freezing, evaporating and condensing

  1. 1. A. melting

  2. 2. B. freezing

  3. 3. C. Heating can make a solid melt.

  4. 4. D. condensing

  5. 5. A. evaporating (or boiling)

  6. 6. B. freezing

  7. 7. A. condensing

  8. 8. C. evaporating