Solids, Liquids & Gases: A States of Matter Experiment at Home

This experiment pairs with the Solids, Liquids & Gases lesson. Your child will observe all three states of matter using the same substance — water — and watch it transform from one state to another.

What you need

• Ice cubes (at least 6)
• A small pot or kettle
• A clear glass or jar
• A metal spoon
• A timer or clock
• A notebook and pencil
• A mirror or cold plate (for catching steam)
• Food coloring (optional, makes water easier to see)

The experiment

Part 1: Meet the three states

Set up three stations on the table:

1. Solid — An ice cube on a plate
2. Liquid — Water in a clear glass
3. Gas — Have your child breathe on a cold mirror to see water vapor condense

For each station, ask: Can you pick it up? Does it keep its shape? Does it fill up the container it is in?

Part 2: Solid to liquid (melting)

Place an ice cube on a plate. Set a timer. Have your child check it every 2 minutes and draw what they see. Questions to ask:

• Is it still a solid? What is changing?
• Where did the water come from?
• How long did it take to melt completely?

Bonus: Put a second ice cube in a warm bowl of water. Does it melt faster? Why?

Part 3: Liquid to gas (evaporation)

With a parent supervising, bring a small amount of water to a boil. Hold a cold plate or mirror above the steam (carefully — an adult should handle this).

• What do you see rising from the water?
• What happens when the steam hits the cold plate?
• Where does the water go when it boils away?

Part 4: Liquid to solid (freezing)

Fill an ice cube tray with water and add a drop of food coloring. Put it in the freezer. Check it after 30 minutes, 1 hour, and 2 hours.

• When did it start to freeze?
• Did it freeze from the outside in or all at once?

Discussion questions

1. What are the three states of matter?
2. What makes a solid different from a liquid? A liquid from a gas?
3. When ice melts, is it still water? What changed and what stayed the same?
4. Can you find examples of all three states of matter in your house right now?

What they are learning

This activity reinforces the Solids, Liquids & Gases lesson: matter exists in three states, and it can change from one state to another when heated or cooled. The substance itself does not change — only its form does. This is one of the most important ideas in all of science.