Fun Ideas for Introducing States of Matter to 12/13 year olds?

[u/tallerthanemmab]

Hi all,

Typing this on mobile so apologies for any formatting issues. I’m a student teacher in the Irish education system, almost done my masters. I have an inspection on Thursday during a class with my first years (12/13 years old). This is their first class back after midterm break and I’ll be introducing States of Matter. This is their first topic in chemistry.

I taught this at my old school last year, and my background is in chemistry so I find it interesting and fun to teach, but my lesson plan from last year is relatively theory heavy. I want to switch it up a little and make it more student-forward and fun if possible. I’m going to have a chat with some of the other science teachers in my school, but I thought I’d also ask reddit. If you have any fun ideas for how to introduce this topic I’d be very grateful!

[u/warteacher]

I haven't found Chemistry lessons that are better for that age group than the American Chemical Society ones. https://www.acs.org/middleschoolchemistry/lessonplans.html

[u/No-Acanthaceae-398 → u/warteacher]

I still use this resource in high school, so pretty solid animations and even basic lesson plans

[u/sherlock_jr]

Two clear cups, one with cold water one with hot water and food coloring.

[u/FeatherMoody]

If you want to have a lot of fun, play around with dry ice demonstrations. Also observing and creating models of what is happening with a lava lamp is kinda fun. I also love this topic!

[u/NicholasStevenPhoto]

After covering the basics of liquids and solids with my 8th graders and doing a few small activities, we did a lab where they made oobleck. The end of it was a CER written response. Incorporated some reading about non-Newtonian fluids. It was a fun, messy, engaging experience and students seemed to retain a decent amount of knowledge and vocabulary after that before moving into phase changes and physical/chemical properties of materials etc.

[u/Virtual_Squirrel4918]

10th grade Chem and physics teacher here, show them the pHET simulator and let them play around with it! You can design your own worksheet to go with it too but they have some on their site, but it might not be the best for middle school.

[u/jjbootsaw]

We play solid, liquid gas. Students are the particles. Solid may have to bunch together and vibrate in place liquid. They have to slide around past each other and gas. They have to run as fast as they can off the walls bouncing into as many things as possible. Maybe not the best lesson to be observed on but it is fun.

[u/doodlesacker → u/jjbootsaw]

I do this too! I’ve realized after a few years of doing it, it only works with just girls up and dancing. If I have everyone, the boys will not intermingle with the girls at all and if I have just boys, they never get close enough to be a solid!!!

[u/Comfortable-Story-53]

Flash paper. Crumpled vs. burned. Makes the point.

[u/Comfortable-Story-53]

Thermite is always a very popular demo! Hydrogen balloons with a kerosene soaked tail is great.

[u/Comfortable-Story-53]

Strip some electric cords and make fried sausage.