New
New
Year 4

Changing state: liquid to solid

I can observe that some materials change state from liquid to solid when they are cooled.

New
New
Year 4

Changing state: liquid to solid

I can observe that some materials change state from liquid to solid when they are cooled.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. We can change the state of a liquid to a solid by changing its temperature.
  2. Water is a liquid at room temperature but becomes a solid (ice) when it is cooled down.
  3. The process in which a liquid changes to a solid is called freezing.
  4. Different materials can be observed changing from liquid to solid when cooled.

Common misconception

Children think that materials can only change from a liquid to solid state at temperatures below 0°C. They also believe that the change is irreversible.

Teaching slides give examples of materials which change from their liquid to solid state at temperatures higher than room temperature. Through investigation, children will observe that the change between solid state and liquid state is reversible.

Keywords

  • State - Materials can exist in three common states of matter: solid, liquid and gas.

  • Solid - A solid has a fixed shape and volume but some solids can change shape when a force is applied.

  • Liquid - A liquid can flow, has a fixed volume and takes the shape of the bottom its container.

  • Freeze - To freeze is to change from a liquid state to a solid state.

Encourage children to refer to water as “liquid water” to help address the confusing fact that, in day to day life, we only refer to the liquid state of this material as water.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Beakers or cups, kitchen foil, teaspoons, greaseproof paper, warm water, squares of chocolate.

Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - equipment

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
The three common __________ are solid, liquid and gas.
An image in a quiz
names of matter
Correct answer: states of matter
versions of matter
Q2.
Match the common name used for water to its state of matter.
Correct Answer:water,liquid

liquid

Correct Answer:ice,solid

solid

Correct Answer:water vapour,gas

gas

Q3.
The process of a solid changing to a liquid is called .
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: melting
Q4.
Which of the following needs to change for solid water (ice) to melt?
the noise level
the brightness
the pressure
Correct answer: the temperature
Q5.
Which of the following would you use to measure temperature?
a force meter
a ruler
Correct answer: a thermometer
Q6.
At what temperature does water change from a solid (ice) to a liquid? °C.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 0, Zero, zero, O
Q3 Cagkan Sayin/Shutterstock.com

6 Questions

Q1.
We can change the state of a liquid to a solid by decreasing its .
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: temperature
Q2.
We can use a thermometer to measure the __________ of a room.
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: temperature
warmth
coldness
Q3.
What state is water in at room temperature?
An image in a quiz
solid state
Correct answer: liquid state
gas state
Q4.
Different materials can be observed changing from liquid to solid when .
Correct answer: cooled
heated
moved
stirred
Q5.
If you cool down water in the liquid state, what state does it become?
liquid (water)
Correct answer: solid (ice)
gas (water vapour)
Q6.
is the name of the process where liquid water changes to solid water (ice).
Correct Answer: Freezing, freezing

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