🔬 5th Grade Science · Unit 2

Changes in Matter

16 short narrated lessons in 3 chapters, each with pictures, a quiz with a hint and a second try, and an explanation for every answer.

Standards: 5-PS1-2 5-PS1-4

5th Grade Science · 7 units
  1. 1Matter and Its Properties
  2. 2Changes in Matter
  3. 3Energy and Food
  4. 4Ecosystems
  5. 5Earth's Systems
  6. 6Protecting Earth
  7. 7Space Systems
Picture from the lesson “Physical Changes”
Physical Changes
Picture from the lesson “Melting, Freezing and Boiling”
Melting, Freezing and Boiling
Picture from the lesson “Mixing It Up: Mixtures”
Mixing It Up: Mixtures

What your child will learn

Physical changes and mixtures

  1. Physical ChangesExplain that a physical change alters a material's shape or state but not what it is made of.
  2. Melting, Freezing and BoilingDescribe how heating and cooling change matter from one state to another.
  3. Mixing It Up: MixturesExplain that a mixture combines substances that keep their own properties.
  4. Solutions: Perfectly MixedDescribe a solution as a mixture where one substance dissolves evenly in another.
  5. Changes and Mixtures Review ReviewReview physical changes, changes of state, mixtures and solutions.

Chemical reactions

  1. A New Substance FormsExplain that a chemical change produces a new substance with new properties.
  2. Signs of a ReactionIdentify evidence of a chemical change such as gas bubbles, color change, heat or light.
  3. Baking Soda and VinegarConduct an investigation showing that mixing baking soda and vinegar makes a new gas.
  4. Chemical Changes All AroundRecognize everyday chemical changes like rusting, baking and burning.
  5. Chemical Reactions Review ReviewReview how to tell whether mixing substances makes a new substance.

Matter is conserved

  1. Weighing Before and AfterMeasure the weight of substances before and after mixing to compare them.
  2. Melting Doesn't Change WeightShow that the total weight of matter stays the same when it melts or freezes.
  3. Reactions Keep Their WeightExplain that the total weight stays the same in a chemical reaction when nothing escapes.
  4. Graphing the DataUse graphs of measurements to show that the amount of matter is conserved.
  5. Matter Is Conserved Review ReviewReview evidence that the total weight of matter is conserved during changes, heating, cooling and mixing.
  6. Unit 2 Test: Changes in MatterShow what you learned in the whole unit (Physical changes and mixtures, Chemical reactions, Matter is conserved) by answering mixed questions.

Try a question from this unit

From the lesson “Physical Changes”

What is a physical change?

  • A change that makes a brand new substance
  • A change in size, shape or state where the material stays the same
  • A change in the name of a material
  • A change that always makes light
Show the answer

A change in size, shape or state where the material stays the same. A physical change alters size, shape or state, but the material is still made of the same stuff.

Hint kids see after a wrong try: “Think about torn paper. Is it still paper?”

Key words

  • physical change
  • melt
  • boil
  • state
  • mixture
  • solution
  • chemical change
  • substance
  • reaction
  • evidence
  • investigation
  • rust
  • weight
  • measure
  • conserve
  • conservation of matter
  • graph
  • data
← Matter and Its Properties All 5th Grade Science units Energy and Food →

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