Activity

Exploring states of matter

In this activity, students develop a concept map to summarise current ideas about states of matter.

Most students are familiar with three states of matter – solid, liquid and gas. This activity introduces them to two new states – plasma and Bose-Einstein condensates.

By the end of this activity, students should be able to:

  • identify key ideas about states of matter from a written article

  • display the ideas in a concept map

  • identify and discuss similarities and differences between concept maps

  • recognise that concept maps are a useful method to communicate scientific knowledge.

  • appreciate that science knowledge about states of matter has changed over time.

Download the Word file (see below) for:

  • introduction/background notes

  • what you need

  • what to do

  • discussion questions

  • sample concept map.

Published: 12 April 2010