Kindergarten PHYSICS

ACTIVITY 1
MATTER: Exploring Solids

Standards:12.C.1b Compare large-scale physical properties of matter (e.g., size, shape, color, texture, odor).

Lesson: Solids keep their shape and size
Break students up into small groups (4 at most). Give each student in the group a penny and a sheet of paper. Ask students to observe and describe the penny (shape, color, size). Have each student trace the penny with a pencil. Did the penny change size or shape? Have the students make a rubbing of the penny; did the penny change size or shape? NO-because pennies are solids and they keep their shape.

Materials: pennies, paper, pencil



ACTIVITY 2
Matter: Exploring Liquids

Standards:12.C.1b Compare large-scale physical properties of matter (e.g., size, shape, color, texture, odor).

Lesson: Liquids do not have a shape of their own, they take the shape of their container

Have students break into groups 3 at most). Give each group three different size and shape clear containers (i.e. a short plastic cup, a tall plastic cup, a squat plastic dish). Pass out a glass of water (add food coloring to make it more visible/appealing) to each group. Guide them through pouring the liquid into the various containers, noting how the liquid has taken the shape of the container it is in.

Materials: plastic cups of various sizes, water, food coloring