Can you believe this is a very simple water science experiment you can do in little time if necessary? I set this solid, liquid, and gas experiment with very few supplies! Here are more fun states of matter science experiments to explore! Plus make sure to grab the free printable States of Matter mini pack to add to this quick and easy hand-on science demonstration.

SOLID LIQUID GAS EXPERIMENTS FOR KIDS

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States of Matter

ALL KIDS CAN BE A SCIENTIST!

So what exactly is a scientist? How can you encourage your kids to be good scientists without a lot of effort, fancy equipment, or too difficult activities that create confusion rather than curiosity?

A scientist is a person who seeks to acquire knowledge about the natural world. Guess what? Kids do that naturally because they still learn and explore the world around them. All that exploring brings up a lot of questions!

All About Scientists Lapbook

Download this free, all about scientists lapbook to learn more about what a scientist does and different types of scientists!

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Scientist Lapbook

A good scientist also asks questions as they explore the natural world, and we can further encourage this with these super simple science experiments. Knowledge is gained through all of these questions, explorations, and discoveries! Let’s help them with fun science activities that really spark their inner scientist.

STATES OF MATTER FOR KIDS

What is matter? In science, matter refers to any substance that has mass and takes up space. Matter consists of tiny particles called atoms and it has different forms depending on how the atoms are arranged. This is what we call states of matter.

LOOK: Parts of an Atom with a simplified paper plate atom model activity!

WHAT ARE THE THREE STATES OF MATTER?

The three states of matter are solid, liquid, and gas. Although a fourth state of matter exists, called plasma, it’s not shown in any demonstrations.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE STATES OF MATTER?

Solid: A solid has tightly packed particles in a specific pattern, which cannot move about. You will notice a solid keeps its own shape. Ice or frozen water is an example of a solid.

Liquid: In a liquid, the particles have some space between them with no pattern, so they are not in a fixed position. A liquid has no distinct shape but will take the shape of a container it is put into. Water is an example of a liquid.

Gas: In a gas, the particles move freely from one another. You can also say they vibrate! Gas particles spread out to take the shape of the container they are put in. Steam or water vapor is an example of a gas.

This is a great example of a physical change!

TRY THIS FREE STATES OF MATTER ACTIVITY

Solid, Liquid, and Gas Experiment

YOU WILL NEED

  • water
  • ice cubes
  • large bowl or two
  • tongs (optional)

EXPERIMENT SET UP

Step 1: Fill a bowl full of ice! Here’s the solid-frozen water.

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Bowl of Ice

Step 2: Let the ice melt! Here’s the liquid – water.

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Melting Ice

Ok, so this could be the long part of the water science experiment unless you A) add warm water to the bowl or B) bring out a bowl of water to use and pretend you let the ice melt. We talked about how water is still matter, but it flows and has a shape that changes.

Try this preschool flower ice melt for additional science fun!

Step 3: Adults only! Carefully boil the water. The steam is the gas!

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Boiling Water Steam

Optional, if safe to do so, allow your kid to feel the steam. What does it feel like?

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Watching Steam rise from Boiling Water

MORE FUN WATER EXPERIMENTS

Water is a fantastic science supply to have on hand. There are tons of cool ways to explore water science activities including the ones listed below!

More Helpful Science Resources

SCIENCE VOCABULARY

It is never too early to introduce some fantastic science words to kids. Get them started with a printable science vocabulary word list. You’re definitely going to want to incorporate these simple science terms into your next science lesson!

WHAT IS A SCIENTIST

Think like a scientist! Act like a scientist! Scientists like you and me are also curious about the world around them. Learn about the different types of scientists and what they do to increase their understanding of their areas of interest. Read What Is A Scientist

SCIENCE BOOKS FOR KIDS

Sometimes the best way to introduce science concepts is through a colorfully illustrated book with characters your kids can relate to! Check out this fantastic list of science books that are teacher approved and get ready to spark curiosity and exploration!

SCIENCE PRACTICES

A new approach to teaching science is called the Best Science Practices. These eight science and engineering practices are less structured and allow for a more freeflowing approach to problem-solving and finding answers to questions. These skills are critical to developing future engineers, inventors, and scientists!

DIY SCIENCE KIT

You can easily stock up on the main supplies for dozens of fantastic science experiments to explore chemistry, physics, biology, and earth science with kids in preschool through middle school. See how to make a DIY science kit here and grab the free supplies checklist.

SCIENCE TOOLS

What tools do most scientists commonly use? Grab this free printable science tools resource to add to your science lab, classroom, or learning space!

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Science Books

Click on the image below or the link for more easy science experiments with water.

 

9 Comments

  1. Sarah, I love this post! Such a great idea and I could jump in my kitchen and do it right now! Thank you for continuing to inspire our learning at home – Liam is such a lucky little man!

  2. This looks fun! I always considered matter are too complicated (for preschooler and me!) but this is explained in a child-friendly way. (Even I understand it! lol!) I’m totally going to have to look for that Bernstein Bears book!

  3. Pingback: Liquid Density Tower Physics Activity and Experiment for Kids
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  5. Pingback: 15 States of Matter Science Experiments for Kids - Mom For All Seasons
  6. Great idea and presentation,I tweaked it just a little and poured warm water over the ice to make steam and then of course it is the liquid! Thanks for sharing!

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