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Matter: Solids, Liquids, and Gases

Emily Hahn and Alexandra Barr

Description
Concept Map
Assessment Plan
Rubric
Calendar
Resources
Lesson Plan 1
Lesson Plan 2
Orientation Video
Clinical Interviews
Modifications
Elementary Science Methods Home

Clinical Interviews

Clinical Interview 1, Clinical Interview 2

Clinical Interview I

Conducted by: Alexandra Barr

Name: Hunter

Age:  12

Summary:

After interviewing Hunter, I realized that although he is older than our target age group, he didn’t have a firm foundation of knowledge on what “matter” is.  He had a general knowledge of the substances, but could not tell me the properties of gases as all.  After questioning him thoroughly, he had a better understanding of what each substance was, but still didn’t show a high level of comprehension.  Hunter kept claiming that he had never heard about “that stuff” before, but when I asked him how he knew what solids, liquids and gases were, he claimed he just knew.  This leads me to believe that he has been exposed to the principles of matter, but he simply didn’t recall the lessons; whether that be due to his memory, or the teaching method it didn’t stick.

What is matter?

Liquid, Solid and Gas

What is mass? (stuff things are made of)

Weight

What is a solid?

Something that takes up space.

        How do you know something is a solid?

        Because it’s hard

What is a liquid?

Fluidy

        How do you know something is a liquid?

        It can be poured.

What is a gas?

Air

        How do you know something is a gas?

        When you smell it.

Does air have mass?

No

Do gases have mass?

No

Do liquids have mass?

Yes

Do solids have mass?

No Duh.

What happens to gases in the air? (particles disperse)

Evaporates

        Is heat matter?

    No

        Electricity?

    No

        Feelings?

    No

A powder can be poured. Is it a liquid or a solid?

Solid, It’s little balls of solids, and it takes up space.

Matter has 3 forms: solid, liquid, and gas. Can something be more than one? Like a solid and a liquid?

Yes, Ice cubes can be all three!

        What about water?

        No Duh

Which form of matter are people?

All three, we’re solid because we take up space, liquid because we can spit, and gas… it comes out of us.

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Clinical Interview 2

Conducted by: Emily Hahn

Name: Madeline

Age: 10

Summary:

She seemed to have a basic understanding of solids, liquids, and gases, but not of matter or non matter. She believed the common misconceptions that students have about matter. She had no idea what the term “mass” means, even when I compared it to weight. She had difficulty using appropriate vocabulary and did not have the vocabulary to discuss different properties.

While teaching the matter unit, I want to be careful to check for a solid understanding of the matter and its various forms. I also will also want to reinforce the vocabulary so that students can successfully examine and communicate with one another about different properties. I will also be sure to refer back to the unit of Matter: Solids, Liquids, and Gases after we have finished in order to reinforce what has been learned.

What is matter?

“Not really sure”

What is mass? (stuff things are made of)

“Type of metal”

What is a solid?

“Something hard like a rock”

How do you know something is a solid?

“Because I learned it in the 4th grade”

What is a liquid?

“Something that is flowing, like water.”

How do you know something is a liquid?

“It runs out of your hands when you try to pick it up.”

What is a gas?

“Like air, sometimes you can smell it.”

How do you know something is a gas?

“You just know that they  are around you.”

Does air have mass?

“I don’t think so.”

Do gases have mass?

“I don’t thinks so.”

Do liquids have gas?

“Yes.”

Do solids have gas?

“Yes.”

What happens to gases in the air? (particles disperse)

“It’s just there. Sometime you can smell it.”

Is heat matter?

“It has to be, because it’s like a fire.”

Electricity?

“Yes.”

Feelings?

“Yes.”

A powder can be poured. Is it a liquid or a solid?

“Yes and no. Because sometimes you can pour it and sometimes you can’t.”

Matter has 3 forms: solid, liquid, and gas. Can something be more than one? Like a solid and a liquid?

“Yes, it could be a solid and a liquid together, like ice. It’s liquid and it’s frozen.”

Could water be a gas?

“No, it can’t be a gas.”

Which form of matter are people?

                “Solid.”

 Just solid, or are we more than one form of matter?

                 “Gas, too.”

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