Making a pyramid diorama for the states of matter is a fresh way for your child to show what they have learned about the topic in a fun 3D presentation. Also, look at my page Trioramas: How To Create Engaging Visual Narratives For Kids for more ideas.
Everything around you, from the chair you’re sitting on right to the air that you breathe is made up of matter.
Matter is anything that takes up space and has mass. Matter exists in different states and can change states.
Let’s dive in and explore the fascinating world of solids, liquids, gases, and plasma.
Understanding the states of matter helps us understand the world around us and how materials behave.
From building strong structures with solid materials to using liquids for transportation and gases for energy, the states of matter play an important role in our everyday lives.
BOOKS ABOUT PHYSICAL SCIENCE TOPICS FOR KIDS
Next, I gathered a few books about physical science.
When possible, we prefer to read living books with our unit studies and to read alongside our experiments.
10 Books About Physical Science
Physical science varies in topic. It can cover states of matter, forces and motion like push and pull, forms of energy like simple circuits, light and sound to earth and space.
Can you make an ice cube disappear? Put it on a hot sidewalk. It melts into water and then vanishes! The ice cube changes from solid to liquid to gas. This Level 2 Let's-Read-and-Find-Out picture book is a fascinating exploration of the three states of matter. This clear and appealing science book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom, uses simple, fun diagrams to explain the difference between solids, liquids, and gases. This book also includes a find out more section with experiments designed to encourage further exploration and introduce record keeping.
In Matter: Physical Science for Kids, kids ages 5 to 8 explore the definition of matter and the different states of matter, plus the stuff in our world that isn’t matter, such as sound and light! In this nonfiction picture book, children are introduced to physical science through detailed illustrations paired with a compelling narrative that uses fun language to convey familiar examples of real-world science connections. By recognizing the basic physics concept of matter and identifying the different ways matter appears in real life, kids develop a fundamental understanding of physical science and are impressed with the idea that science is a constant part of our lives and not limited to classrooms and
laboratories
Why did Gandhi hate iodine (I, 53)? How did radium (Ra, 88) nearly ruin Marie Curie's reputation? And why is gallium (Ga, 31) the go-to element for laboratory pranksters?The Periodic Table is a crowning scientific achievement, but it's also a treasure trove of adventure, betrayal, and obsession. These fascinating tales follow every element on the table as they play out their parts in human history, and in the lives of the (frequently) mad scientists who discovered them. The Disappearing Spoon masterfully fuses science with the classic lore of invention, investigation, and discovery.
Jeanne Bendick, through text and pictures, admirably succeeds in bringing to life the ancient Greek mathematician who enriched mathematics and all branches of science. Against the backdrop of Archimedes' life and culture, the author discusses the man's work, his discoveries and the knowledge later based upon it. The simple, often humorous, illustrations and diagrams greatly enhance the text.
Charles Ludwig retells Michael Faraday’s remarkable life story in fictionalized form. Here is the father of the electric motor, the dynamo, the transformer, the generator. Few persons are aware of the brilliant man’s deep Christian convictions and his determination to live by the Sermon on the Mount. For ages 12 to 15.
Book about electricity for children.
Did you know that energy comes from the food you eat? From the sun and wind? From fuel and heat? You get energy every time you eat. You transfer energy to other things every time you play baseball.
Have you ever wondered why a prism turns ordinary sunlight into a rainbow? Isaac Newton knew why. How can a magnet be used to generate electricity? Michael Faraday could have told you. Can you explain how a toaster toasts bread? In this book, author Paul Fleisher answers these and many more questions as he looks at the laws that describe how waves behave. Through simple experiments, detailed illustrations and concepts that are easy to understand, readers are introduced to the basic principles of light, electricity and magnetism in a fun, exciting way.
Have you ever wondered why a 10-tonne boat floats but a tiny pebble sinks? Archimedes knew why. How does a basketball or tennis ball bounce? Robert Boyle could have described how! Can you explain why a hot-air balloon rises but a balloon you blow up drops to the ground? To answer these questions and many more, author Paul Fleisher explains the laws that define how and why liquids and gases behave the way they do. Through simple experiments, detailed illustrations and concepts that are easy to understand, readers are introduced to the basic principles of fluid mechanics in a fun, exciting way.
Explains the concepts of simple and complex machines and mechanical advantage, and describes how wheels, including gears and ball bearings, work
Before we move onto the pyramid triorama, look at the different states of matter to get a good understanding of each.
FACTS ABOUT SOLIDS STATES OF MATTER
Solids are all around us, your toys, your books, and even your bones.
They have a definite shape and volume, meaning they don’t change their shape easily and take up a specific amount of space.
Think of a brick; it stays a brick whether you put it in a box or on the ground.
It’s about the tiny particles inside them.
These particles are packed tightly together and can only vibrate in place.
This tight arrangement gives solids their strength and keeps them from flowing like water.
Fun Fact: Some solids, like glass, may seem hard but are very brittle and can shatter easily.
FACTS ABOUT LIQUIDS STATES OF MATTER
They have a definite volume but take the shape of their container.
Think of pouring juice into a glass – the juice takes the shape of the glass but keeps the same amount.
The particles in liquids are close together but not as tightly packed as in solids.
They can move around and slide past each other, allowing liquids to flow and take the shape of their container.
Fun Fact: Water is the most common liquid on Earth and is essential for all life.
FACTS ABOUT GASES: INVISIBLE AIR
Gases are all around us, even though we can’t always see them.
They have no definite shape or volume and expand to fill their container.
Think of blowing up a balloon – the air inside expands to fill the balloon’s shape.
The particles in gases are far apart and move around quickly. They have lots of space to zoom around, which is why gases can be compressed easily and expand to fill any space.
Fun Fact: The air we breathe is a mixture of different gases, mostly nitrogen and oxygen.
PLASMA
Plasma is the fourth state of matter and is not as common as solids, liquids, and gases on Earth.
It’s like a superheated gas where the particles are so energized that they break apart into charged particles.
Plasma is found in stars, lightning, and even some neon signs.
Fun Fact: The Sun is a giant ball of plasma.
CHANGING STATES
Matter can change from one state to another through processes like melting, freezing, boiling, and condensation.
- Condensation: When a gas turns into a liquid (like steam condensing into water droplets on a mirror).
- Melting: When a solid turns into a liquid (like ice melting into water).
- Freezing: When a liquid turns into a solid (like water freezing into ice).
- Boiling: When a liquid turns into a gas (like water boiling into steam).
MORE PHYSICAL SCIENCE ACTIVITIES
- Physical Science For Kindergarten: Free States Of Matter Pages
- Electricity Hands-On Homeschool Science Activity
- Electricity STEM: Lighting Up a Shoebox Tiny House
- 41 Easy Hands-on Faith-Neutral Science Activities for Kids
- 5 Simple Wind Energy Activities For Kids & Fun DIY Anemometer
- How to Make a Simple Wind Vane | Fun Wind Activities Middle School
- Simple and Fun Hands-On Water Cycle Activity For Kids
- How To Make A Fun Periodic Table Notes Game With Kids
- How To Make A Newton’s Cradle With Popsicle Sticks | 5 Sir Isaac Newton Facts
- Then grab some minibooks About Sir Isaac Newton and His Apple on my Apple Unit Study and Lapbook page.
- Easy Atom Model Project: How To Create A Fun Lego Version
Then look at these other themed ideas.
MORE TRIORAMA IDEAS
- How to Make an Easy Rainforest Triorama With Kids
- How to Make a Water, Land, and Sky Animal Habitat Triorama
- How to Make an Amazing Shakespeare Triorama Book Report
- How to Make a Cool Greek Mythology Triorama With Kids
- How to Make a Giant Triorama Project About Cherokee Culture
- How to Make A Desert Triorama About the Gobi, Sahara, & Antarctica
- Amazing Geography Landforms: An Engaging Triorama Tutorial for Kids
- How to Make a Triorama Teaching the Primary Colors with Dollar Tree Supplies
- How To Build A Water Habitat Triorama With Kids
- How to Craft a Stunning Wolf Animal Triorama
- How to Make a Biome Triorama That Explores Alaska’s Amazing Features
- How to Make a Native American Triorama Highlighting Tribes in 3 Regions
- How to Make A Pyramid Diorama For States Of Matter
- The Wonders of the Great Barrier Reef: An Ecosystem Triorama
Finally, look at how to make this pyramid diorama for states of matter.
HOW TO MAKE A PYRAMID DIORAMA FOR STATES OF MATTER
You will need:
- 12×12 Cardstock
- Fine line pens
- Markers, crayons, or colored pencils
First, choose your states of matter- Liquid, gas, solid, plasma and then choose which substance will represent each.
We are going to go with water, ice, and steam to keep it simple for this triorama but encourage your child to branch out into new states of matter as well.
To create your pyramid we are going to need to fold and cut that square, start by folding it from diagonal corner to corner like this.
Open the fold and do it again in the opposite direction so that you now have two intersecting lines across the paper.
Cut from one corner until you just get to the center point.
Put an X on one of the triangles on one side of the cut or the other to note which piece will be glued and hidden. I like to leave most of our trioramas flat until they are completed because it makes it so much easier to write or draw on a flat surface.
On another sheet of cardstock your child can draw states of matter in whatever form they have chosen, keeping them small enough to fit on the page with room for information.
Color them in.
Cut around the images.
Trace the image shapes onto your 3 triangles of the folded paper so you can write without worry of covering up the words.
To make our images literally pop off the page we are going to accordion fold strips of cardstock just a few times and then glue them to the back of the images and set aside.
On the 3 folded triangles have your child write all about a state of matter on each, leaving the outlined space free.
Attach the pictures by the strips to the designated area on the page.
Fold the X under the other side and glue securely into place to form your pyramid.
