Virginia SOL 2.3.c

Science2nd GradeMatter

The Standard

heating and cooling can change the phases of matter.

Virginia Standards of Learning for Science

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students predict and observe what happens when solids, liquids, and gases are warmed or cooled. They connect melting, freezing, evaporation, and condensation to changes in temperature.
What Mastery Looks Like: Students correctly predict that ice melts when warmed and liquid water freezes when cooled. They use observations to explain that the material remains water even when its form changes.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think melted ice becomes a different substance. They may think evaporated water disappears completely. Some confuse melting with dissolving or believe every material changes form at the same temperature.
How to Assess It: Show pictures of an ice cube, a puddle, and water droplets on a cold glass. Ask students to name each change and tell whether warming or cooling caused it.

Lesson moves

Place an ice cube in a clear cup, sketch it every two minutes, then put the collected water in a freezer.
Ask students to write what happens to a snowman on a warm day and explain where the water goes.
Play a card sort matching melting, freezing, evaporation, and condensation with pictures and warming or cooling labels.
Have students explain why ice cream melts outside the freezer and why placing it back in the freezer changes it again.

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A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 2.3.c, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

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