Students working on plant project in Mrs. Morris's room. More to come

Learning About States of Matter Through Science Inquiry and Discovery

States of Matter

Is Butter Only a Solid?

Can Butter be a Liquid?

For this scientific activity, students poured one-fourth of a small container of liquid whipping cream into each of six small glass jars with lids.  The students then sat in a “Share Circle” in the carpeted area of our classroom and observed the contents of the jars.  Students were told they were going to be shaking the jars and turning the liquid into a solid.  Students brainstormed ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS they had related to this activity.  Some of the questions were:

Will the liquid change into a solid?

Will the temperature of the liquid in the jars become warmer as students shake the jars?

Will the liquid change color?

Students then made predictions about their observations.  One student predicted the liquid in the jars would stay the same, but become warmer.  Another student predicted that the liquid would turn yellow (like butter).  Several students said the liquid would not turn into butter.  Some students were very perplexed at the idea of the liquid in the jars turning into a solid.

The first six students at the designated beginning of the circle each held a glass jar with the whipping cream in it.  Next, those six students began shaking their jars.  The entire circle said the “Butter Cheer”! Shake Butter Shake! Shake Butter Shake!  Shake Butter, Shake Butter!  Shake Shake Shake!

Midway through this activity, students were in DISCOVERY MODE!  Look!  I see thick butter! 

Wow!  This is magic!  It’s changing before my eyes! 

After the jars were passed around the entire circle with the “Butter Cheer” being said one time for each student (24 times), the whipping cream had turned into a solid lump of butter in each jar!

Mrs. Caviness removed the lids and students observed and evaluated the results. 

Were any of the student predictions correct?

Did the liquid transform itself into a solid?

Each student was then given a piece of French bread.  Mrs. Caviness smeared a dollop of butter on each piece.  The taste testing of the results of their hard work began!  The science lesson turned into an adjective overload with all of the delectable, descriptive words being shared! 

We truly enjoyed this delicious learning sequence!