New
New
Year 4

Melting temperatures: plan

I can plan how to find the temperatures at which some common materials melt.

New
New
Year 4

Melting temperatures: plan

I can plan how to find the temperatures at which some common materials melt.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The process in which a material in the solid state changes to the liquid state is called melting.
  2. The melting temperature is the temperature at which a solid changes to a liquid.
  3. Different materials have different melting temperatures.
  4. Scientists ask questions about the melting temperature of different materials and plan how to answer them.

Common misconception

Children may think that only common materials melt at room temperature or that when something melts, the liquid is a different substance to the original solid.

Children are shown a range of materials with different melting temperatures, ranging from below to above room temperature. They are taught to refer to materials in a way that highlights the fact that the material is still the same substance.

Keywords

  • 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 of its container.

  • Melting temperature - The melting temperature of a material is the temperature at which it changes from solid state to liquid state.

  • Degrees Celsius - Temperature is measured in degrees celsius (°C).

Encourage children to build on their knowledge of melting to plan an investigation to measure the melting temperatures of different materials.
Teacher tip

Equipment

None required but it may help children with their planning to have access to containers of water, foil or foil cases, a range of materials to test.

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.
When a substance changes from a solid state to a liquid state, we say that it is...
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: melting, melted, melts, melt
Q2.
A thermometer is an instrument that measures...
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: temperature
Q3.
What instrument could you use, with a temperature sensor, to monitor and record temperature over a long period of time?
thermometer
Correct answer: data logger
data measurer
stopwatch
Q4.
Which state of matter has a fixed volume and a fixed shape?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: solid
liquid
gas
Q5.
At what temperature does water freeze?
0°C
20°C
37°C
Correct answer: 100°C
Q6.
Starting with the first, put these activities in the order a scientist would do them.
1 - ask a question
2 - plan an enquiry
3 - carry out an enquiry
4 - record results
5 - make conclusions

6 Questions

Q1.
The process in which a solid changes to a __________ is called melting.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: liquid
Q2.
Which of the following statements about ice are true?
An image in a quiz
ice is a different material to water
Correct answer: ice is water
Correct answer: ice is the same material as water vapour
ice melts at 100°C
Q3.
Which phrase describes the temperature at which a material changes from its solid state to its liquid state?
An image in a quiz
freezing temperature
heating temperature
Correct answer: melting temperature
liquid temperature
Q4.
Materials in which states of mater have fixed volumes?
Correct answer: solid state
Correct answer: liquid state
gas state
Q5.
Which of the following statements about melting temperatures are true?
All materials have the same melting temperature.
Correct answer: Different materials have different melting temperatures.
The melting temperature of any material is changeable.
Q6.
How does the work of scientists relate to melting temperatures?
They use their knowledge of melting temperatures to design and build products.
Correct answer: They ask questions and plan enquiries into the melting temperature of materials
They use their knowledge of melting temperatures to design recipes.

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