Solid, liquid and gas. The three states of matter provide a host of different investigations for children in KS2 to get their hands on.
The lessons in this free download start with foundational knowledge, before giving you five different investigations for your class to undertake.
The investigations do not need to be completed in order, so you can be flexible depending on what staff and equipment you have available.
None of these experiments needs specialist or expensive equipment, either, although they can make a little mess – and cause brain freeze.
Whilst I’ve described six ‘lessons’, you could fill 12 hours of teaching time, as many of the experiments take a little while to complete and then have a short recording activity at the end. Essentially, you can structure this plan however works best for your class.
States of matter KS2 resources
This download contains:
- Medium-term plan
- PowerPoint
- Accompanying worksheets
States of matter KS2 questions
- How can we sort materials?
- What is the structure of a particle?
- Why do materials change state?
Investigations
- Melting Chocolate – Students observe how chocolate melts in water of varying temperatures, recording changes over time to understand states of matter.
- How Do Different Materials Melt? – Pupils compare how different substances (e.g., ice, oil, vinegar) melt, noting the process and patterns in their melting rates.
- How Do We Freeze Ice Cream? – Using salt and ice, students make ice cream while learning about heat transfer and the role of energy in changing states.
- What Is Condensation? – A simple experiment with hot water and cling film demonstrates condensation and links to the water cycle.
- Where Did the Bubbles Come From? – Students explore why bubbles appear when squeezing a sponge underwater, reinforcing observational skills and addressing misconceptions.
Matthew Lane is a teacher from Norfolk. His book Wayfinder, on how to lead curriculum change (£17, John Catt), is out now. Visit his website at theteachinglane.co.uk
