Introduction to Physical Changes

Today I introduced changes in matter to my fourth grade science class.
The objective is to make students aware of the physical changes that they
are a part of everyday. Students participated by causing physical changes with things
around them. Students were working in groups during this activity. The following materials
were given to four groups: paper & scissors, paper & crayons, play-doh, and food coloring & water. Each group was asked to make a physical change with these objects. Each student in the groups used their imagination to make different changes in their objects. Students cut paper into snowflakes & paper dolls, other students made unique designs with crayons, students made a family of ducks from the play-doh, and the last group mixed colors to form various shades of colored water. They not only enjoyed the activity by observing each others physical changes, but began listing lots of other examples of physical changes. A lesson enjoyed by all!