Matter Is Made of Particles
Develop a model to describe that matter is made of particles too small to be seen, and that this explains properties of solids, liquids, and gases
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Matter Is Made of Particles means practising the idea at the table with a simple hands-on check. We will demo once, then your child tries.
Materials: Two everyday materials (e.g. ice cube / warm water / salt / spoon); Clear cup and paper for notes. 1. Say the goal of Matter Is Made of Particles in plain words once. 2. Adult shows one property or state change and names solid/liquid/gas or a material property. 3. Child tests three samples and records a property or state observation each time. 4. Fresh check: one fresh property or state observation. Record and stop. Done: three property/state notes with evidence. Proof: parent note of examples and results. Stop: End after the fresh check; keep optional challenge for another day.
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Start practiceMatter Is Made of Particles practice
Practice key ideas from Matter Is Made of Particles.
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Learning resources
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PhET Interactive Simulations · Practice link — not the full lesson
States of Matter: Basics
Before you open · source notes
States of Matter: Basics supports hands-on exploration for Matter Is Made of Particles. Not every lab worksheet.
Free interactive page, no sign-in required for the tested path.
Before you openAsk the learner what they changed in the sim or page and what they observed.
Opening this link does not save learning or assess mastery.
Source, access and review notes
Public PhET Interactive Simulations page. An anonymous GET on 2026-11-12 returned HTTP 200 with no login or payment prompt for this URL. Opening the link does not save practice or assess mastery. An adult should preview and guide the learner.
PhET Interactive Simulations. “States of Matter: Basics.” External page; Gakuva does not copy, host, embed, or redistribute materials.
Unknown — link only
Check understanding
- Describe matter as made of particles too small to see with the naked eye
- Use a particle model to explain differences: particles tightly packed (solid), loosely arranged (liquid), spread far apart (gas)
- Use the particle model to explain a state change (e.g. heating makes particles move faster and spread apart)
“Can your child explain that everything is made of tiny particles we can't see, and that how tightly packed they are determines whether something is a solid, liquid, or gas?”
Curriculum record
- Type
- Conceptual
- Subject
- Science
- Domain
- Matter & Materials
- Age range
- Ages 10–11
Standards