Phenomenal Explorations™: How Does Matter Change When an Object Dries? Kit

Grade 5. Over 1 lesson consisting of 5 activities, students investigate phenomena related to how matter changes as an object dries. Phenomenal Explorations™ kits support the NGSS innovations of phenomena and three-dimensional learning by integrating literacy and science investigation.

Kit includes a teacher’s guide, a 12-month individual license for 1 teacher and up to 32 students on CarolinaScienceOnline.com, and enough hands-on materials for a class of 32 students. In addition to the lesson activities, the teacher’s guide includes a pre-assessment, a post-assessment, and a scenario-based assessment. Also included are remediation activities to support struggling students and enrichment activities to challenge students who demonstrate a high level of comfort with the lesson’s concepts.

To replenish items consumed during the teaching of the kit, purchase individual components listed on the “What’s Included” tab.

Next Generation Science Standards Alignment*:
Performance Expectations

• 5-PS1-1: Develop a model to describe that matter is made of particles too small to be seen.
• 5-PS1-2: Measure and graph quantities to provide evidence that regardless of the type of change that occurs when heating, cooling, or mixing substances, the total weight of matter is conserved.

Disciplinary Core Ideas

• PS1.A: Structure and Properties of Matter
• PS1.B: Chemical Reactions

Science and Engineering Practices

• Developing and Using Models
• Planning and Carrying Out Investigations
• Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking

Crosscutting Concepts

• Scale, Proportion, and Quantity
• Systems and System Models
• Energy and Matter
• Scientific Knowledge Assumes an Order and Consistency in Natural Systems

Connections to English Language Arts (ELA) and Math
English Language Arts

• W.5.5: With guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach.
• W.5.7: Conduct short research projects that use several sources to build knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic.

Math

• MP.2: Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
• MP.5: Use appropriate tools strategically.
• 5.NBT.B: Perform operations with multi-digit whole numbers and with decimals to hundredths.

Activity Summaries:
Pre-Assessment (10–30 minutes)
An optional pre-assessment activity identifies students’ prior knowledge of the lesson’s concepts about matter and how it can be changed, helps teachers identify and address misconceptions, and reviews the scientific concepts that are foundational to the lesson.

Activity 1—Literacy and Science (45–60 minutes)
Students consider the lesson phenomena related to wet objects (socks, swimsuits, sponges, etc.) drying overnight. Using a literacy-based Student Activity Sheet, they review prior knowledge related to matter. Students develop an initial model and make an initial claim about how matter changes when an object dries.

Strengthening NGSS Connections
Activity 2—Plan and Carry Out Investigations (60–120 minutes)
Students plan and carry out two investigations and use standard units to measure and describe weight and time. In the first investigation, students gather evidence to evaluate a prediction of how matter flows into or out of an open system. In the second investigation, students gather evidence to evaluate models of open and closed systems when they are heated.

Activity 3—Analyze and Interpret Data (45–60 minutes)
Students graph measured quantities to provide evidence for conservation of matter. Groups share data from their investigations with the class, and students discuss patterns and relationships among changes in weight, changes in matter, and the characteristics of a system.

Activity 4—Develop Models (30–45 minutes)
Students develop models (labeled diagrams) to describe conservation of matter when a system changes. Students’ models depict matter composed of particles that are too small to be seen.

Activity 5—Review and Make a Claim (30 minutes)
Students revisit phenomena related to wet objects drying overnight, which were discussed in Activity 1. Students revise their initial models and finalize claims about how matter changes when an object dries.

Scenario-Based Summative Assessment
Scenario-based assessments blend science and reading comprehension and relate to the fundamental scientific concepts from the lesson. Students apply their knowledge to answer questions based on a lesson-specific scenario.

*Next Generation Science Standards® is a registered trademark of WestEd. Neither WestEd nor the lead states and partners that developed the Next Generation Science Standards were involved in the production of this product, and do not endorse it.