Changes in matter happen all of the time in the world around us. These changes are important for students to understand and apply in their scientific learning. Students must understand what matter is to understand how the changes occur. The web resources I explored promote twenty-first century scientific literacy skills through interactive learning.
A web site I found useful for a simple introduction of changes in matter was
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/studyjams/matter_states/. This web video uses cartoon characters to explain how matter can change states and what is involved in the transformation. They also introduce vocabulary needed for students to understand the processes involved with changes in states of matter. I like the video because it is informative, yet entertaining enough to keep the students’ attention. Any factor that will increase motivation is important, especially for my sixth grade students. A second web site that introduces states of matter is http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/gamesactivities/gases.html. This web site is a bit more interactive, where students are able to sort solids, liquids, and gases, and then experiment with the states of matter in relation to heat.
One website that takes the concepts further and allows students to be more interactive is http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/states-of-matter-basics. When the interactive tool is loaded, the solid, liquid, and gas form of various atoms and molecules can be explored. Heat can be added or subtracted to explore the changes. A second tab takes the interactive tool a step beyond, where pressure is added to the equation. Students are then able to observe how pressure and heat affect one another in terms of how atoms and molecules behave. I enjoyed this website as it offers a great deal of learning on the subject of changes in matter. Because this site is quite interactive, it promotes the inquiry process. Students are able to independently apply concepts through a mock experiment. I would like to introduce my students to this computer activity to help them understand what is happening when matter changes from state to state. A potential challenge may be their ability to stay focused on learning rather than playing. For this reason, it would be wise to provide my students with questions to answer based on the web experience.
An additional website that I visited while researching resources for the states of matter was http://www.explorit.org/scienceonline/teacher-resources/InquiryLabTERP_Matter_web.pdf. This website provides teacher lessons relating to matter and their changes. One of the lessons suggested that students work in groups to make a visual representation of how each state appears (students in charge of the solid group would stand close together, those in the gas group would move around and bump into each other). A second lesson that came from http://www.teachnet.com/lesson/science/icecream051999.html gave an outline of how students can make ice cream to explore how salt reacts with ice to change its freezing point. This is an experiment that could easily be applied in the science classroom. It is an activity that can promote collaboration, communication, and problem solving. I like the fact that students can eat this experiment, which would provide a great deal of motivation. Learning about physics can be so much fun!
