Mississippi Science P.K.5A.2
The Standard
- P.K.5A
- Students will demonstrate an understanding of the solid and liquid states of matter.
Describe and compare the properties of different materials (e.g., wood, plastic, metal, cloth, paper) and classify these materials by their observable characteristics (visual, aural, or natural textual) and by their physical properties (weight, volume, solid or liquid, and sink or float).
2026 Mississippi College- and Career-Readiness Standards for Science · Organization of Matter and Chemical Interactions
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Children describe how wood, plastic, metal, cloth, and paper look, feel, and sound. They compare weight and space taken up, identify solids and liquids, and test what sinks or floats. They sort items using a property they can name.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A child groups objects by a named property and explains the choice: 'These both floated in our tub.' They compare weight on a balance and explain that water pours while a wood block keeps its shape.
Common Misconceptions
- Some children call any shiny object metal or sort materials only by color. They may think bigger always means heavier. They may also assume every wooden object floats and every metal object sinks.
How to Assess It
- Set out a small wood block, a metal spoon, and a tub of water. Ask each child to name the liquid, lift the solids to compare their weight, and test which floats.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs a wood block, plastic cap, metal spoon, and cloth square to feel, tap, and test in water, then sort by observed properties.
Show two same-size bottles, one empty and one filled with water; ask, 'Which is heavier, and what takes up space inside?'
Play 'Guess My Sort' with a plastic cap, metal spoon, paper square, and wood block; children name a property and regroup objects.
At snack, compare a metal spoon, paper napkin, and plastic cup; ask which bends, which clinks, and which holds water.
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Printable P.K.5A.2 Worksheet
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