Lesson video

It is Miss Simkin back for your next science lesson.

And today we are going to start a new unit.

So a new topic in our science lessons.

So our next six lessons will all be based around the same topic.

And I'm going to introduce it to you now.

Our new unit is physical and chemical changes.

So we are going to be looking at lots of different types of changes in this unit.

We're going to look at burning.

We're going to look at freezing.

We're going to look at some chemical reactions that fizz and bang.

We've got lots of fun science ahead of us for the next six lessons.

Our lesson today is all about particles.

So the question we're going to answer is how do particles in solids, liquids and gases behave? So we're going to be looking at our three states of matter today.

Which you may have learned already in science.

But if not, don't worry.

We are recapping today.

In today's lesson you are going to need the following things.

Your are going to need a piece of paper.

Lined paper or plain paper or an exercise book are all fine.

You're going to need a pencil to write with.

A colouring pencil, so you can mark your answers in a different colour and a ruler.

And we're also going to need these star words.

Okay, so our star words today are solid, liquid, gas.

Which are three states of matter.

And our last star word is particle.

I'm going to say it and then you're going to say it, particle.

Great, so a particle is essentially something that has mass.

So anything that weighs something, that has mass, everything is made out of particles.

Okay, so they're kind of like the smallest piece that anything is made out of.

We can't see them with the naked eye but we can imagine them.

Okay, so I'm made out of particles.

Your screen is made out of particles.

Everything is made out of these teeny, tiny particles.

And we're going to look at particles today.

This is the structure our lesson's going to follow.

We're going to start with going over our states of matter.

We're going to look specifically at particles, water particles.

And then we are going to look at the properties of solids, liquids, and gases.

And we're going to use what we know about their particles to explain their properties.

So let's start with our states of matter.

I'd imagine that this would be revision for lots of you.

So let's see what you already know.

There is a picture here of our three states of matter.

Which is which? Which is the solid, which is a liquid, and which is a gas? If you know, you can pause the video and write it down.

Great, so the ice on the left is our solid.

The glass of water, like the one I've got here, is the liquid.

And then the steam coming out of the kettle, that's the gas.

Okay, those are our three states of matter.

Solid, liquid, gas.

Now, what we're actually seeing in these pictures is water in three different states.

So water as a liquid, in the cup.

Water as a solid in the ice and water as that steam, that water vapour coming out of the kettle.

So that means that water must be able to change between those three states.

It can either be a solid, a liquid, or a gas.

And we have a name for how it changes between each of those.

So how would we get from a liquid water to a solid ice cube? What would you do? You'd put it in the freezer, okay.

So when liquid goes to a solid we call it freezing.

What do we call it? Freezing.

Great, it's not just water we can freeze, of course.

We can freeze a whole range of liquids.

You could freeze chocolate.

You could freeze shampoo.

You can freeze any liquid.

As long as you have a cold enough temperature.

Okay, and freezing just means it's changing from a liquid to a solid.

What do we call it then, when we go from our liquid.

So our glass of water.

To our gas, that steam coming out of the kettle.

What's happening there? Well, the water's boiling because it's getting hot.

And then it's evaporating, okay.

Evaporating, your turn.

Great, so that's what happens when it goes from liquid to gas, it evaporates.

So we can also change water as a gas, back to a liquid.

So you might have seen this happen.

If you've ever had a shower or a bath and it's got really steamy in the room because you've got lots of hot water coming out of your tap.

And then evaporating into warm water vapour and steam.

If it then touches a cold material, like maybe the cold mirror in your bathroom, you'll see that you get little water droplets where that gas is turning back into a liquid.

So when it goes from a gas to a liquid, we call that condensation.

What do we call it? Condensation, great, okay.

And then the last thing that we could do.

The last kind of loop is to go from a solid to a liquid.

So when we go from ice to water, what's happening there? It also might happen to your ice cream on a hot, sunny day.

Melting, great.

So when we go from a solid to a liquid it's melting.

Brilliant.

Let's see if you can remember those four processes.

So they're labelled here on this diagram.

So A is going from a solid to a liquid.

So from ice to water.

What is happening there? Can you pause the video and add the labels to these diagrams for me, please? Great, let's check your answers.

I especially want you to check your spelling here, okay.

To show you these words before I ask you to write them.

So if you've made a spelling mistake, that's normal, but I want you to correct it with your different colour as we go through.

So when we go from a solid to a liquid, it's melting.

When we go from a liquid to a gas it's evaporating.

And then we can go back down.

So from a gas to a liquid is condensing.

And from a liquid to a solid is freezing.

Well done if you got those correct.

If not, no problem, you'll get them right next time.

Can you pause the video and correct your answers for me now, please? Great, let's go unto the next part of our lesson which is all about particles.

So, remember, we discussed that particles are anything that have mass.

And everything is made out of particles.

But different particles have different properties.

So we're going to start just by looking at water particles.

So ice, liquid water, and steam all contain the same particle.

They all contain the same water particles.

But depending on the temperature, so how hot or how cold it is, the water particles are arranged differently.

So you can see, we've zoomed in on the screen to our ice, our water, and our steam.

So when you zoom into ice you can see that the particles, which are represented by a green circle.

They're all the same size and the same colour.

When we zoom into water and when we zoom into the steam as well.

Okay, they're all the same size.

They're all the same colour.

They're all water particles, but they're arranged in different ways.

We're going to look at how they're arranged now.

The particles in a solid are arranged in a regular pattern.

So you can see they're in straight rows and columns.

The particles in a solid are also touching.

And they move very slightly.

They vibrate next to each other.

The particles in a liquid are in a more random arrangement.

So they're still touching, but it's random.

They can also more more than solid particles.

So they move and they slide past each other.

And finally, the particles in a gas are not touching.

They have big spaces between them.

They're still in a random arrangement and they can move really fast past each other.

Okay.

So.

We're going to play a game now.

You saw me start to demonstrate the particles with my hands.

I want us all to have a go at doing that, please.

So the first one is the solid.

So show me your solid particles.

Close together, touching, and vibrating.

So we can make noise.

Great.

Then liquid particles, still touching, but they're moving around each other.

Have a go.

Great, and then gas particles.

They're far apart and they're moving really fast and randomly around each other.

Brilliant, okay.

Now we're going to play a game.

I'm going to say the state of matter and you are going to show me the action that matches it.

So if I say solid you're going to go.

If I say gas, you're going to go like this.

Okay, I'm going to start off doing it with you.

Then I'm going to stop and see if you can remember by yourself and I might try and catch you out as well.

Ready? Great.

Liquid.

Solid.

Gas.

Liquid.

Gas.

Solid.

Liquid.

Liquid.

Gas.

Solid.

Liquid.

Gas.

Solid.

Liquid.

Gas.

Well done if you managed to keep up.

Just a little bit of fun to see if we can remember how the particles all move.

Good job.

I've got some questions for you now.

Can you please, so we're just thinking about our solid particles.

Can you please draw the particles in a solid? And then describe the arrangement for me.

Pause the video and complete that now.

Good job, let's check our answers.

So, your picture of the solid particles might have looked something like this.

And the description is the particles in a solid are arranged in a regular pattern.

So that's your key word, regular pattern.

If you've written it, underline it and tick it.

If you've missed out regular pattern, that's okay.

Add it in with your different colour.

And they're all touching.

Particles vibrate on the spot but cannot move from place to place.

So vibrate is your second key point that you need to have in there.

Can you underline it if you've included it.

If you haven't, that's okay.

Can you just add it in? Pause the video if you need to make any corrections.

Brilliant.

Your next question is this.

Can you draw the particles in a solid and describe the arrange.

Oh, sorry, it says liquid.

We've just done solid.

Wake up, Miss Simkin.

Can you draw the particles in a liquid and can you describe the arrangement of particles in a liquid? Pause the video and answer those questions for me now, please.

Great, let's check your answers.

So your picture might have looked something like that.

Particles in a liquid are also touching but they're arranged in a more random way.

Okay, so your key point there is arranged randomly or more randomly.

So make sure you've got that, you've got the word arranged and randomly in your answer.

Underline it if you've included it.

Or go and add it in, in a different colour.

The particles in a liquid are able to move past each other.

Okay, that's the next key point.

They're moving past each other.

Pause the video if you need to add anything to your answer.

Great, you've guessed it.

The last one is can you draw the particles in a gas and describe the arrangement of these particles? Pause the video to answer those questions now.

Fantastic, let's check our answers.

So your picture might have looked something like this.

Those are the lines coming off the particles are meant to represent that they're moving really quickly.

And your description might have been something like this.

Particles in a gas are moving very fast in all directions.

They have a random arrangement and they're not touching.

Okay, so your key points there are random arrangement, not touching, and very fast.

Okay.

And gas particles do sometimes touch each other because they might bump into each other as they're moving around fast.

But in general they're moving around in their own space and they're not touching each other.

Pause the video if you need to add anything to your answer now.

Great.

So, in the next part of our lesson we're going to look at the properties of solids, liquids, and gases.

Before we start, can you please draw this table unto a piece of paper into your book so that you can make some notes as we're going through it.

So you should have three columns, solid, liquid and gas with three rows.

Pause the video to draw the table now, please.

Great.

When you're ready we're going to start, well, we're going to start with our first property that we're going to fill in the first row.

So we are going to talk about the shape that our states of matter take.

This is an example of a liquid.

It's just water.

I put some red food colouring in it, just so we can see a little bit more clearly.

And let's talk about the space that this liquid is taking up.

It is currently taking on the shape of it's container.

So the container is this cup, which is a tall cylinder.

And my water is taking the shape of a tall cylinder.

If I were to change its container, so if I put my liquid into a new container, a different shaped container, it will then take the shape of its new container.

So now it's not a tall cylinder anymore, the liquid.

It's quite a short, fat cylinder.

Because that's the new shape that it is in.

So a liquid takes the shape of the container that it's in, but it doesn't fill up the whole container.

It always takes the shape of the bottom of the container.

So, if I transfer it again to a new container.

So I've got a jam jar this time.

When I pour my liquid into my new container it's not going to just rise.

And form a strip at the top.

It's not going to expand to fill the whole container.

It's always going to take the shape of the bottom of the container.

Okay, let's check.

There we go, it's gone down to the bottom.

Okay, nothing weird happened.

It's not just sitting in a strip here at the top of the container.

It's not expanding to fill the whole thing.

A liquid takes the shape of the bottom of a container.

So that's what liquids do.

What about solids? So, I have a solid here.

This is a potato.

Whoops.

Um, hot potato.

This is a potato.

And it is potato shaped, do you agree? Yes, it's like an oval.

Now is my potato going to change shape if I put it in a container, like liquid did? So when my liquid was in this container, it took on the shape of the bottom of the container.

Is my potato going to do that? Let's check.

No.

It's still potato shaped.

It's just potato shaped inside a container.

Okay, so solids don't change shape depending on their container.

They have a fixed shape.

That means they stay the same shape.

It doesn't matter what container I put the potato in.

It's still going to stay the same shape.

If I put it in a measuring jug, it will be the same shape.

If I put it in food.

I'm sorry, I was going to say a shoe box, it would be the same shape, okay.

So solids have a fixed shape.

What about gases? So gases do something different to solids and liquids.

Gases fill the entire container that they are in.

So this room that I'm sitting in at the moment is kind of like a big container.

And the gas, the air that I can breathe has spread out to fill the entire room.

And that makes sense because I can breathe no matter where I'm standing in the room, right? It's not just like one corner where all the air is, where I can breathe.

The air fills the entire room.

So I can breathe wherever I'm standing.

And that's the same of smaller containers as well.

So, with our jam jar of liquid, it doesn't expand to fill the whole thing.

But if it was a jar filled of gas, which it now is, now that I've emptied it.

It would expand.

Now with gas we kind of have to imagine.

Unfortunately I can't just add some food colouring to the air to allow you to see it.

But air, or gas will already be filling this container because it doesn't have a lid on it and it's going to be expanding to fill all of the space.

Okay, I could blow in it, just to be really sure that there's some air in there.

Put my lid on, okay.

So the air that I've just blown into that container is not going to just sit at the bottom.

It's going to expand to fill the whole thing.

And that's because its particles, like we just practised, are moving really fast.

They're filling the whole area.

So, can you please add these three options into your table? So, these three options will go into one of each of your columns.

Which one's a solid? Which one's a liquid? Which one's a gas? Pause the video and answer that question for me please.

Great, let's check your answers.

So, a solid has a fixed shape.

Like my potato.

And liquid takes the shape of a bottom of a container.

And a gas fills its container.

Okay, so these are some of the properties.

So if we were to find an object and try and identify if it was a solid, liquid, or a gas, this would help us to do it.

We could think to ourselves, well, does it have a fixed shape? Yes, then it's a solid.

Does it take the shape of the bottom of a container? Yes, then it must be a liquid.

Okay? The next property we're going to speak about is whether a state or a material can flow.

So we're going to look at whether something can flow or whether it can't flow.

When we talk about something flowing, we mean moving really smoothly from one surface to another.

Okay, so I've actually already done this, but let's do it again and think about flowing.

If I were to move my liquid from one container to another.

You can see it flows really easily.

There's a constant stream.

It moves smoothly from one container to the other.

Okay, my liquids can flow.

Gas can also flow.

It moves really smoothly from one container to another.

You can't see it, but I can pour the gas from this.

Sorry, I had a bit of water in it.

I can pour the gas from this container into this container.

It just effortlessly flows, okay.

What about my solid? Does my solid flow? If I was to pour my solid from one container to another is it going to go smoothly? No, it just goes.

In one big chunk.

It doesn't flow.

Okay.

Can you please pause the video and fill in the next section of your table? So for each of the solid, liquid, or gas, can you write can flow or cannot flow.

Pause the video and complete that now.

Great.

Let's check our answers.

So a solid cannot flow.

But a liquid and a gas can flow.

Great.

Now, before we move unto the next bit, I want to talk about a material that's a little bit tricky.

So sand, let's think about sand.

Sometimes people get confused with sand.

Because it can act a little bit like a liquid.

In the fact that if I were to have a cup of sand and pour it into another container of sand, it would move very smoothly.

It would appear to flow.

Which would make me think, hm, is sand a liquid? But sand is not actually a liquid.

Sand is a solid.

Sand is made up of really, really small grains.

Teeny, tiny pieces of solid.

And because they're so small, and there's so many of them, they kind of act like the particles in a liquid.

Okay, so that's why they can appear to flow over each other.

But each of those tiny grains of sand is a solid.

Okay, and it's made up of it's own little solid particles.

So sand can be a bit confusing, but sand is a solid.

The next property we're going to look at is whether solids, liquids, or gases can be compressed.

So when we compress something it means that when we apply a force to it, so a push for example.

That it changes the amount of space it takes up.

Okay, so.

For example, here's my potato.

If I apply a force to it.

So I'm squishing it at the moment.

It doesn't change the amount of space that it takes up.

It's still taking up the same amount of space.

Okay, we're going to look now at a video where we try this with a solid and a gas.

So it's not me, but I'm going to speak over the video and you'll see what happens when we try to compress a solid and a gas.

And we'll see if they take up the same amount of space.

If they're compressible or not.

So in this demonstration what's going to happen is we're going to put a liquid in a syringe and then we're going to seal the top of it.

And we're also going to put a gas in a syringe.

And then we're going to seal the top of it.

We're then going to compress both syringes down to see if the liquid or the gas are compressible.

Okay, so first of all you're going to see the syringe is being setup for the experiment.

So you need to put your finger on the bottom of the syringe so nothing comes out and then pour the liquid in.

Okay, the then plunger of the syringe can go into it.

And this isn't it being compressed, it's just pushing the air bubble at the top here out.

Okay, then next the same is being done with gas.

So this is smoke.

From burning incense.

It's being collected in the syringe.

So, compressibility.

So you can see they've put a little stopper on the end.

And they're trying to compress the liquid down.

But it's not compressing.

So the amount of space that the liquid is taking up, which you can see on this scale, is not changing.

So that means it's not compressible.

Let's see what happens with the gas.

So with the gas you can see it is compressible.

Because when it's being pushed down, when it's being compressed.

The lever is going up and down.

The volume is changing.

Can you please pause the video and complete the last section of your table? So, can a solid, liquid, or gas be compressed or can it not be compressed? Great, let's check our answers.

So a solid cannot be compressed.

A liquid cannot be compressed.

But a gas can be compressed.

Before we move on from this part of the lesson, I want to talk about one more material that can also sometimes be confusing, okay.

So I'm going to show you a sponge.

But also you can think of this as, this is the same kind of material that a squishy is made of.

I know that's a common toy that people like to play with.

And when I did this lesson with my class last year, a squishy was something they asked about.

So, we've learned that a solid can't be compressed.

But that's not the same as saying it can't be squished.

Okay, so at the moment I can squish this solid.

Okay, squishing just means that when I apply a force it changes shape, which it does.

So my sponge is changing shape.

And a squishy would change shape when I squish it.

That's why it's called a squishy.

It's squishable.

But that's not the same as compressing something.

Because even when it's changing shape, it's still taking up the same amount of space.

Okay, so it's either taking up space here.

So if I were to bend it like this, it takes up the same amount of space.

So it's not the same as compressing.

If I manage to really like squish it down like this, there is something being compressed here.

But it's not the solid.

This sponge and squishies and materials like it, have lots of really tiny holes in them.

I'm not sure if you'll be able to see it very clearly, but they have tiny holes in them.

And those holes inside have air inside them, which is a gas.

So when I'm applying a force, I'm compressing the holes with air in them.

I'm compressing the gas.

And we've learned that gas is compressible.

But the actual solid material itself is not being compressed.

You can try it yourself if you have a squishy or a sponge at home.

That brings us to the end of our lesson.

So just before we go, let's recap our star words.

So our star words today were solid, liquid, and gas.

Which were our three states of matter.

And our last star word was a particle.

And a particle is something that has mass.

Well done for all of your hard work today.

If you would like to, then you can send me your work on Twitter.

Please ask a parent or carer to send this for you with the hashtag, LearnWithOak.

Have a lovely rest of your day.

And I will see you back here for another science lesson soon.

Bye, everybody!.