Year 4 - Science
Melting temperatures: research
Introduction to states of matter and changing states
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit explores the properties of solids, liquids, and gases, and how materials change state when heated or cooled. It covers evaporation, condensation, and the water cycle, with a focus on practical enquiries, careful observations, accurate measurements, and presenting findings.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to research and compare the melting temperatures of common materials.
Key Notes
- The melting temperature of a material is the temperature at which it changes from solid state to liquid state.
- Different materials have different melting temperatures.
- It is hard for scientists to create temperatures high enough to make some materials melt.
- Melting temperatures can be researched using secondary sources of information.
- When carrying out research, more than one source should be used to check that the information is accurate and reliable.
Vocabulary To Learn
- melting temperature: The melting temperature of a material is the temperature at which it turns from solid state to liquid state.
- solid: A solid has a fixed shape and volume but some solids can change shape when a force is applied.
- liquid: A liquid can flow, has a fixed volume and takes the shape of the bottom of its container.
- degrees Celsius: Temperature is measured in degrees Celsius, often abbreviated to °C.
- secondary sources: Secondary sources are texts, images or objects created using information gathered by others.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Children may think that only common materials such as ice melt; that materials cannot melt at room temperature or that when something melts, the liquid is a different substance to the original solid.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.
The melting temperature of a material is the temperature at which it changes from solid state to liquid state. Different materials have different melting temperatures.
2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'melting temperature'
The melting temperature of a material is the temperature at which it turns from solid state to liquid state. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.
3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.
Mistake: Children may think that only common materials such as ice melt; that materials cannot melt at room temperature or that when something melts, the liquid is a different substance to the original solid. Correction: Children are shown a range of materials with different melting temperatures which range from below to above room temperature. They are taught to refer to materials in a way that highlights the fact that the material is still the same substance.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Changing state: gas to liquid Study Guide
- Changing state: liquid to gas Study Guide
- Changing state: liquid to solid Study Guide
- Changing state: solid to liquid Study Guide
- Comparing and grouping solids, liquids and gases Study Guide
- Evaporation and condensation in the water cycle Study Guide
- Everyday examples of changing state: solids and liquids (non-statutory) Study Guide
- Everyday examples of evaporation and condensation (non-statutory) Study Guide
- Melting ice caps and glaciers (non statutory - Climate Change & Sustainability) Study Guide
- Melting temperatures: do and review Study Guide
- Melting temperatures: plan Study Guide
- Properties of solids, liquids and gases Study Guide
- Temperature and evaporation: do and review Study Guide
- Temperature and evaporation: plan Study Guide
- Thermometers and data loggers Study Guide
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