States of Matter

Summary
This lesson introduces students to matter.

Objectives
• To be able to define matter.

• To be able to list the different states of matter.

• To be able to recognize the characteristics of each of the states of matter.

Suggested Grades
5th Grade
6th Grade
7th Grade

Excerpt
There are five states of matter. Matter is defined as anything that takes up space. The five states of matter are solids, liquids, gases, plasmas, and Bose-Einstein condensates. Each state of matter has distinctive properties that can be used to identify it. Each of these states of matter is also known as a phase. Things can move from one phase to another phase when special forces are present. For example, temperature can cause matter to change phases. Water is a liquid but if temperatures drop low enough, water can turn to ice, which is a solid.

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