Classroom Teacher Integrated

Announce to the students that they are molecules and molecules always move. They can move (e.g. walk, skip, etc.-we recommend walking to start with) anyway they want however, they can't touch one another.

Begin with a large area clearly marked by the cones that you set up. Have the students move for about one minute and stop. Decrease the area. Have the students move again. Repeat this in a very small area. Remind them not to touch each other.

They are now in a small area and warmed up. Have them sit down and quickly explain that molecules that are far apart are gases (like the first time they moved). When the area was decreased, they were closer together. Molecules that are closer together are in a liquid state. When molecules are so close together they can hardly move-this is a solid.

When the students are "liquid" they can "melt" or "ooze" at the end and when they are are "solids" they can "freeze" in a shape. This would reinforce the idea if the walls were enlarged step by step again after they were decreased.