Terry Melancon 3rd Grade 7-20-11 Writing Genre: Informational

Central Ideas

Content: Science: Matter

Reading: Discover & analyze text features - captions, pictures, bold print, headings - from a variety of texts

Writing: Evidence can be drawn from several resources to support a thesis

Focusing Question

How are physical and chemical changes in matter different?

Focus (answer to focusing question)

Physical changes are when matter changes the way it looks without becoming a new kind of matter. In a chemical change, one kind of matter changes into a different kind of matter.

TEST DRIVE

Matter

Matter can have physical or chemical changes. These are very different from one another.

Physical change is when matter changes the way it looks without becoming a new kind of matter. There are many ways to make physical changes in matter. Matter can change from one state to another. It can change from a solid to a liquid to a gas yet it still remains the same kind of matter. Temperature causes these changes. Mountains can be carved into different art. That is a physical change. Cutting up fruit into smaller pieces does not change it into a different kind of matter. It is just a physical change.

Some changes in matter can make new kinds of matter. In a chemical change, one kind of matter changes into a different kind of matter. We use these changes all the time. When we make bread from batter by adding heat, it is a chemical change. When metal rusts, it is a chemical change. When wood is burned it changes to gases and ashes. This is a chemical change.

Matter can have physical or chemical changes. They are very different. I liked experimenting with matter and making it change.