States of Matter
Students will create a brief stop-motion video to show the three states of matter.
Objective
In this activity, students will demonstrate their understanding of the three states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas. Using stop-motion animation, they’ll build a model that demonstrates how anything that takes up space and weight is one of the three states of matter.
Overview
| Topic |
Chemistry |
| Target age |
7 to 9 years old |
| Ideal group size |
2 or 3 students |
| Time to complete |
2 to 3 class periods |
Activity
- Working cooperatively in groups of 2 or 3, students will plan and design a stop-motion video on the three states of matter.
- Student groups will need to make decisions about what techniques to incorporate into their movies. They will ask questions about how to best show the three states of matter: real-life objects or images? What’s the best method for showing the molecules, for example, clay or photos?
- The final project must include an explanation and examples of each of the three states of matter, along with the difference in the molecule structure.
- As students view each other’s movies, have them engage in “think, pair, share” conversations in which they first form their opinions about the movie, then share it with a peer.
Rubric
This sample rubric can help teachers access the project.
Sample Video
