Temperature & Matter Lab- Is Gas Really Matter? With Extension

✨Have you ever felt like your students "grasp" solids, liquids, and gases are matter- they take up space and have mass? But then, you realize they say things like "I can move through gas- like it's not here! It doesn't take up space" once you start getting into deeper discussions about it? That's what this lesson was designed for- to show that gas DOES take up space (inside a balloon) and prove that gas DOES have mass using scientific and mathematical evidence!

✨ I also felt like students were tired of learning this same fact - solids, liquids, and gases are matter- every year and doing the same activities and lessons to learn it. So, I extend the learning in this lesson to go even further and identify what happens to gases when they are in hot and cold temperatures and tie it into their every day lives.

I came up with this experiment and resource! I hope you love it as much as my students and I do! ❤️

Materials Needed:

• Triple Beam Balance (I used 4 for my class of 22 students and it worked fine, although 1 or 2 more would have saved some time.)
• Balloons (1 per group)
• Tape or Double Sided Tape (1 piece per group)
• A Computer or Tablet for each pair of students or 1 per student if that is an option

This science lesson, designed using the highly effective 5E teaching method, is a must-have resource for educators seeking to captivate young minds, promote inquiry-based learning, and instill a lasting passion for science.

Engaging 5E Method: This lesson is meticulously crafted using the 5E instructional model – Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate. This proven approach ensures that your students are actively involved in their learning journey, making discoveries and connections that are meaningful to them.

Real-World Relevance: In this captivating experiment, students will dive into the fascinating world of gases. They'll explore the idea that gases take up space and have mass, all while uncovering the implications of these concepts in their everyday lives.

Temperature Dynamics: Not stopping at the basics, this lesson delves into the effects of temperature on gas particles. Your students will witness firsthand what happens to gas particles when exposed to both hot and cold temperatures, sparking critical thinking and scientific reasoning.

Lifelong Learning: By connecting scientific principles to real-life scenarios, this lesson equips students with knowledge that extends beyond the classroom. They'll gain insights into how gas behaviors apply to various aspects of their daily routines.

Cultivate Intrinsic Motivation: The 5E method at the core of this lesson fosters intrinsic motivation by allowing students to explore and discover answers independently. This empowers them to take ownership of their learning and fuels their curiosity, setting the stage for lifelong learning.

Practice Math Skills: This lesson ties in subtracting with decimals and demonstrates to students that math and science go hand in hand.

What's Included:

• Detailed lesson plan with step-by-step instructions for each phase of the 5E model.
• Engaging hands-on activity and experiment.
• Thought-provoking discussion questions to encourage critical thinking.
• Answer Key.
• Extensions and real-world applications to deepen understanding.

I created this lesson and others like it because I believe the 5E model empowers students to become inquisitive, analytical thinkers with a strong foundation in essential scientific concepts. They're fully engaged and excited to learn and that is what makes teaching science (especially with the 5E model) so rewarding!