Virginia SOL 5.7.c

Science5th GradeMatter

The Standard

energy has an effect on the phases of matter.

Virginia Standards of Learning for Science

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students predict and explain how adding or removing thermal energy changes matter among solid, liquid, and gas. They identify melting, freezing, evaporation, condensation, and the direction of energy transfer.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can use a diagram or observation to name a phase change and state whether energy enters or leaves the substance. The student can predict the new phase after heating or cooling without claiming that a new substance formed.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think evaporated matter disappears or that condensation leaks through a container. They may say cold is added during freezing, rather than energy being removed. Some think every phase change creates a new substance or that liquids become gases only by boiling.
How to Assess It: Exit ticket: Draw ice changing to liquid water and then water vapor. Label each change and show whether energy enters or leaves.

Lesson moves

Place ice in a clear beaker on a hot plate, record temperature and state every minute, and mark when phase changes occur.
Discuss: What happens to particles and energy when an ice cube melts, and what would reverse the change?
Match cards showing starting state, ending state, phase-change name, and whether energy enters or leaves the matter.
Explain why droplets form outside a cold drink, including where the water came from and how energy moved.

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