States of matter sort and act: a 25-minute 2nd grade science game
What it is: a 2nd grade science game where students sort pictures of everyday things into solid, liquid and gas, then act out how the particles move in each state: packed tight, sliding past, or spread out and fast.
Time: about 25 minutes. Grade: 2nd grade.
Materials: picture cards (ice cube, juice, steam, rock, milk, balloon air, pencil, rain, bubbles), three sorting mats, and open space.
- Show a block, a cup of water and an inflated balloon. Ask: "How are these different?"
- Teach the clues: solids keep their shape, liquids take the shape of their container, gases spread out to fill the space.
- Groups sort the picture cards onto the three mats and explain one tricky card.
- Act it out: as a solid, students stand close and wiggle in place; as a liquid, they slide past each other; as a gas, they spread out and move quickly (walking).
- Call "heat it up" and "cool it down" to change states, and ask what is happening to an ice cube.
Safety: the gas state is fast walking, not running, with arms close to the body.
Differentiation: students who need support sort only solids and liquids. Students who are ready discuss why a sponge or sand is tricky. Students who use a wheelchair can act out the states with arm and hand movements.
Quick check: show a picture of steam above a pot and ask a student which state it is and why.
Need it for another grade or subject? Ask us on the request page and our team will write it.
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About this resource
- Shared by
- @UpOnlyLearning · Curriculum team
- Posted
- Oct 30, 2026
- Type
- Lesson plan
- Grade
- Grades K–2
- Subject
- Science
- Language
- English
- License
- Free for classroom, co-op and tutoring use. Please don't resell.