What is matter? What are the three states of matter? How do atoms behave differently in solids, liquids and gases? Students in grades 3, 4 and 5 love this hands on chemistry class. As they learned about matter, they explored the physical characteristics of matter, and the three states of matter.

Now we were ready to look at changes. First we looked at physical changes, and then chemical changes. When you slice an apple, or light a candle,  you can observe both physical and chemical changes.

What are the signs of a chemical change? To find out we added vinegar to baking soda, and vinegar to yeast. In all we conducted 6 experiments before learning the sign that a chemical change is taking place.  In the process of all this work we also learned a lot about measuring capacity and temperature.

Using what we learned about matter, physical and chemical changes we are about to embark on a mystery challenge. By observing and testing 8 different white powders we are going to find out if our observations can later identify a mystery powder! Forensic science at work.