Teacher's Page

Goals:

• To provide an introduction to what matter is and how it relates to everyday activity.

• To identify the difference between a physical and chemical change in states of matter.

• To distinguish between a solid, liquid, and a gas by examining an objects physical make - up.

Objectives:

• Students will identify the three states of matter.

• Students will distinguish between the three states of matter: solids, liquids, and gases. 

• Students will identify the differences between physical changes and chemical changes.

Essential Questions:

• What are the three states of matter?

• What are the characteristics that distinguishes a state of matter from another state?

• What is the difference between a physical and chemical change?

Activity:

This activity is to be introduced in the beginning of a unit dealing with matter.  On the day before this activity is to be completed in the computer lab, approximately 15 minutes will be spent explaining my expectations and the design of this lesson.

On the day of the activity, the students will receive a computer number and worksheet for their assigned group.  When arriving at the computer lab the students will click on the predetermined Websites and answer the related questions.  

At the conclusion of the first chapter in Prentice Hall, Science Explorer book, the students will design a poster dealing with the topic, "What is Matter?".  These posters will be assessed using the rubric on the assignment page of this WebQuest.  

This WebQuest contains many ways in which it reflects the differentiated instruction model.  First, the lesson is tiered by student readiness.  The students are divided by the current reading ability.  The groups reflect the following levels:

• Solids: The students in this group are above sixth grade level in reading.  The students in this group are responsible for reading Websites at this level.  In addition, the students in this group have to complete the task of completing and printing an Online quiz.
• Liquids: The students in this group are at or slightly above the sixth grade reading level.  The Websites chosen for this group are at the sixth grade level.
• Gases: The students in this group are below the sixth grade reading level.  The Websites chosen for the Gases reflect the students current reading ability.

Another way in which this WebQuest follows the differentiated instruction model is because of the length of the task for the three groups.  The Gases group is responsible for reading four Websites, while Liquids & Solids will examine seven sites.  When completing site six, the solids are required to complete an Online quiz and print it.  This task is more time consuming than the the other groups tasks.

Standards:

Discipline: Science and Technology
Strand: 5 - 8 Domains of Science: Physical Sciences
Unit: Building Blocks Of Matter
Standards: 5219
Describe a particular model for matter that accounts for the observed properties of substances.