Matter Is Made of Particles

CONCEPTUAL

Science›Matter & Materials|Ages 10—11|ID: mt_ylruY6VhOf

Develop a model to describe that matter is made of particles too small to be seen, and that this explains properties of solids, liquids, and gases

Mastery Evidence

Describe matter as made of particles too small to see with the naked eye
Use a particle model to explain differences: particles tightly packed (solid), loosely arranged (liquid), spread far apart (gas)
Use the particle model to explain a state change (e.g. heating makes particles move faster and spread apart)

Assessment Prompt

“Can [child] explain that everything is made of tiny particles we can't see, and that how tightly packed they are determines whether something is a solid, liquid, or gas?”

Curriculum Standards1 alignment

5-PS1-1Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) K-5codes only

Standard code — full text not included in this dataset.

Prerequisites3

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Drawing Particle Diagrams hard
Developing a model of matter as particles too small to see is built on the particle diagram representation
Heating & Cooling Changes hard
Must observe state changes before explaining them with particle model
- States of Matter Vocabulary hard
  Describing and measuring changes of state requires solid/liquid/gas vocabulary and the term 'change of state'
- Drawing Particle Diagrams hard
  Observing and describing change of state requires reading particle diagrams showing how arrangement changes on heating or cooling
Solids, Liquids & Gases hard
Must understand observable states of matter before modelling them with particles
- States of Matter Vocabulary hard
  Comparing and grouping materials as solids, liquids, or gases requires the naming vocabulary for the three states
- Drawing Particle Diagrams hard
  Comparing and grouping solids, liquids, and gases by properties is greatly aided by the particle diagram representation
- Heating & Cooling Changes hard
  Must classify states of matter before understanding changes between states
  - States of Matter Vocabulary hard
    Describing and measuring changes of state requires solid/liquid/gas vocabulary and the term 'change of state'
  - Drawing Particle Diagrams hard
    Observing and describing change of state requires reading particle diagrams showing how arrangement changes on heating or cooling
- Grouping Materials hard
  Must group materials by properties before classifying into three states of matter
  - Describing Material Properties hard
    Must describe properties before using them to group materials
    - States of Matter Vocabulary soft
      Describing physical properties of materials uses solid/liquid/gas vocabulary introduced in the states of matter LANGUAGE node
    - Naming Everyday Materials hard
      Must name materials before describing their properties
      - Objects vs Materials hard
        Must distinguish objects from materials before naming specific materials
- Changing Shapes of Solids soft
  Changing shapes of solids provides context for understanding solid properties
  - Describing Material Properties hard
    Must know material properties before investigating how shapes change
    - States of Matter Vocabulary soft
      Describing physical properties of materials uses solid/liquid/gas vocabulary introduced in the states of matter LANGUAGE node
    - Naming Everyday Materials hard
      Must name materials before describing their properties
      - Objects vs Materials hard
        Must distinguish objects from materials before naming specific materials

Unlocks2

The Particle Model
hardAges 11—12
Conservation of Mass
softAges 10—11