States of Matter for Kids: Solids, Liquids, and Gases

Have you ever wondered what makes a rock different from water or air? It all comes down to something called the state of matter! Matter is anything that takes up space and has weight. But, did you know that matter can exist in different forms? Let's learn about the three most common states of matter: solids, liquids, and gases.

Solids

Think of a solid like a building block. It has a definite shape and a definite volume. This means it keeps its size and doesn't change its shape easily. You can hold a solid in your hand, and it won't flow away like water!

• Examples of Solids: Rocks, toys, tables, ice cubes

Liquids

Liquids are like water. They have a definite volume, meaning they take up a specific amount of space. However, they don't have a definite shape. Liquids take the shape of their container. Pour water into a glass, and it becomes the shape of the glass. Pour it into a bowl, and it becomes the shape of the bowl!

• Examples of Liquids: Water, juice, milk, honey

Gases

Gases are like air. They don't have a definite shape or a definite volume. Gases can expand to fill any space they are in. Think about how air fills up a balloon! Gases are all around us, even though we can't see them.

• Examples of Gases: Air, oxygen, carbon dioxide

A Fun Experiment

Here's a fun experiment to help you understand the states of matter:

1. Gather Materials: A glass of water, an ice cube, a balloon
2. Observe: Look closely at the ice cube, the water, and the balloon. What do you notice about their shapes and how they fill up space?
3. Think: Which one is a solid? Which one is a liquid? Which one is a gas?
4. Discuss: Share your observations and thoughts with a friend or an adult!

Learning More

There's so much more to learn about the states of matter! You can explore how heat can change the state of matter, like when ice melts into water or water boils into steam. You can also discover other states of matter, like plasma, which is found in stars!

Keep exploring the world around you and have fun learning about science!