Learning Coach —

Objectives

Students will:

Skills Needed

Students must be able to:

Materials Needed

Students will need:

Keywords

Learning Coach Notes

Let’s Learn: The States of Matter

What are the three states of matter?

You have learned that all things consist of matter. Matter can be a gas, liquid, or solid. Click each word to learn about the states of matter and how they are different.

State of Matter	Description	Examples
	A solid has a specific shape. It is rigid, so it does not take the shape of the container it is in. It takes up a specific amount of space, called volume. It cannot be squashed or made smaller.	The ice in the picture is a solid. Think of your tablet or iPad. These are both solid, and they will not change shape on their own. The tablet or iPad might change shape if you drop it or hit it with something, however.
	A liquid takes up a certain amount of space. It takes the shape of the container it is in. Liquids can fill a container only from the bottom up. Liquids do not spread out like gases. Liquids cannot be squashed.	Water is an example of a liquid. If you put the same water in a bowl and then a glass, the water will change shape to fit the new container.
	Gases are often invisible. Gases do not have a specific shape. They also can change how much space they take up. Gases spread out as much as possible when filling a container or space (like a room). They can also be squashed.	The air we breathe is an example of a gas. When water boils, the steam that is produced is water vapor. This water vapor is also a gas.

Question

Which state of matter is often invisible?