Year 7 Science

Matter

Guidance for Teachers and Parents.

Lesson 3 - Particles

National Curriculum: Programmes of Study for Sc3

Work on the classification of materials, the ways in which materials can be changed related to pupils' knowledge about particles as constituents of matter.

Key Elements

(a) To think about the states of matter in particle terms.

(b) To visualise the changes of state in terms of changes in particle arrangement and movement.

(c) To visualise the expansion of solids, liquids and gas in terms of increasing separation of particle as a result of increased thermal energy.

Objectives

Pupils should:

(a) be aware that all materials are composed of particles.

(b) understand how the particle theory of matter can explain the properties of solids, liquids and gases.

Outcomes

Pupils are be able to:

(a) Label particle diagrams that represent states of matter

(b) Relate material properties to the arrangement of particles.

(c) Make predictions about materials behaviour based on particle theory.

Notes

The idea at the start of the lesson is to challenge students' expectations that icreasing size of an object will cause an increase in mass. Having not added any new material to an expanding substance, as seen in the previous lesson, it cannot have increased in mass. This leads to the kinetic theory of matter.

The squeezing experiment uses plastic drink bottles. Care should be taken not to squeeze the bottles too hard as they can break.

The latter part of the lesson moves students on from the static view of particle spacing to one of particle movement and hence particles having energy.

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