Science worksheet · States of matter
Ice Cube Melt Race
An experiment: predict where ice melts fastest, time three ice cubes and write a conclusion.
- Grade level
- Grades 2–5
- Time
- About 45 minutes
- Topic
- States of matter
- Answer key
- Not needed: answers vary
- Kids practice
- States of matter, Properties, Changes of state
What kids do
Printed on the sheet:
- You need: 3 ice cubes the same size, 3 small plates, a timer. Put one plate in a sunny spot, one in a shady spot and one in the fridge (not the freezer).
- I predict the ice cube in this spot will melt first:
- Every few minutes, write: solid, half melted or all water.
- Conclusion: which ice cube melted first? Was your prediction right? Why do you think so?
Words on this sheet
TimeSunny spotShady spotFridgeStart
Teacher tip
Use the same size ice cubes and start the timer at the same time for a fair test.
How to use it
- Show ice, water and steam from a kettle (at a safe distance) before the sheet.
- Pass around a solid, a liquid in a bottle and a balloon full of air.
- Start with a two-minute “I notice, I wonder” talk about the picture on the sheet.
Watch for
Kids who think gases weigh nothing. Weigh a flat and a blown-up ball to show air has mass.
Talk about it
- Is air matter? How do you know?
- Where have you seen this outside of school?
Take it further
Make ice pops and record how long they take to freeze and to melt.
US Letter, prints well in black and white. Free for home and classroom use: print as many copies as you need.
More states of matter worksheets
Grades 3–5
Matter Up Close
Draw the particles in a solid, a liquid and a gas, then check the facts that are true for each state.
Grades 3–5
Changes of State
Label melting, freezing, evaporation and condensation on the water diagram, then fill in five sentences.
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