Adding Gas to the party! We have been exploring the states of matter at our house. This week we are adding the third state in our study… gas. Gas can be really hard for young kids to understand. This is a great time to let them explore and “discover” that there is gas all around them.
What do you want the kids to know at the end of this lesson?
- Gas is a form of matter
- Gases fill up any container you put them in
- Matter takes up space
I started out by reading a couple of pages in What’s the Matter in Mr. Whiskers’ Room?
You can read my review of this text here.This is to activate their prior knowledge about matter, solids and liquids.
While I read they played with water, measuring cups, balls, and funnels. Like they had in previous lessons on matter.
Next I took a soda and put a balloon over the top. The balloon inflated with carbon dioxide from the soda. You can shake it a little to help the process along.
Then I started the questions : ” What is in the balloon?” My kids immediately said air. So I pushed a little further with how/why type questions. I struggle to try not to evaluate their suggestions, but I am getting better.
My kids decided that the balloon was full of air, but the bubbles in the soda were liquid. It was time to explore.
Immediately they wanted to see if plain water would inflate the balloon.
They get everything set up.
They shake like crazy to get air in that balloon.
Nothing happened. Then they were really puzzled.
They took the balloons off and blew them up. Then we blew bubbles in water glasses. After about 15-20 minutes, I began using some guided questioning:
What do you see? What is happening to the balloons? Why is it happening? How is it happening? What is happening to the water? Why? How? Where is the air coming from? Where did the air in your lungs come from? Can you see the air? Does it take up space? Can we measure the amount of air going into the glass?
My kids really impressed me with their knowledge.
I gave my kids some explanation next. The focus was on the 3 things I wanted them to learn at the end of the lesson. Gases are a form of matter that are often not seen, but are still there. The gas in the balloon takes up space. Gases are special because they will fill any container they are put in. Then we read the book What Is the World Made Of? All About Solids, Liquids, and Gases (Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out Science, Stage 2)
We finished up with a couple experiments listed in the book. The best one was the standard cup/paper towel/water experiment. The idea being that if you don’t let the air escape it takes up space in the cup and keeps the paper towel dry.
This was a great experiment and fun way to wrap up the states of matter this time around!
If you are interested in exercises for the other stages of matter check my posts here and here.
You can also download a 5E model lesson plan of this lesson here.
I will be sharing this post on Science Sunday and For the Kids Fridays. and the Link & Learn at No Time for Flashcards.
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amy jo says
okay, you know me and science…but all this looks FUN!
That's cool I've never blown up a balloon using a soda. Great idea
The boys loved it. It really inspired them to investigate with their materials. They were convinced any liquid could inflate a balloon. It was great fun watching them explore.