Virginia SOL 2.3

2.3 is a Standards of Learning science standard. These are the key ideas and practices under it.

• 2.3.a

  matter has mass and takes up space

• 2.3.b

  solids, liquids, and gases have different characteristics

• 2.3.c

  heating and cooling can change the phases of matter.

01

What Students Need to Do

Students sort materials as solids, liquids, or gases by observing shape and how each fills a container. They gather evidence that matter has mass and occupies space. They describe melting, freezing, evaporation, and condensation caused by heating or cooling.

02

What Mastery Looks Like

Given a wooden block, water in a cup, and air trapped in a syringe, a student identifies each phase and supports each choice with observations. The student predicts what happens when ice warms or water cools and explains the phase change.

03

Common Misconceptions

Students may think air is nothing because they cannot see it. They may say liquids have no volume, confuse melting with dissolving, or assume evaporated water no longer exists.

04

How to Assess It

Exit ticket: For an ice cube, a cup of water, and air in a balloon, label each phase, describe what warming does to the ice, and circle every item that has mass and takes up space.

1. 01

   Rotate groups through trays with a block, water in cups, and air-filled syringes, recording shape, flow, and space occupied.

2. 02

   Write three sentences answering: Where did the water from a shrinking puddle go, and what evidence shows it did not become nothing?

3. 03

   Play Phase Sort with picture cards, then earn a point by naming one observable property that supports each placement.

4. 04

   Observe water droplets outside a cold can, then explain where the water came from and why it formed.

• 1.3

  The student will investigate and understand that objects are made from materials that can be described by their physical properties. Key ideas include

• PS.2

  The student will investigate and understand that matter is composed of atoms. Key ideas include

• 5.7

  The student will investigate and understand that matter has properties and interactions. Key ideas include

• PS.3

  The student will investigate and understand that matter has properties and is conserved in chemical and physical processes. Key ideas include