Science Matter & Materialsusually ages 8–9

Solids, Liquids & Gases

Compare and group materials as solids, liquids, or gases based on their observable properties and behaviour

How to tell they’ve got it

Tick these off as you see them — no test required.

Define solids (fixed shape, hard to compress), liquids (flow, take shape of container), gases (spread out, fill space)
Sort at least eight everyday materials into solid, liquid, or gas categories
Explain tricky cases like sand (solid particles) or steam (gas, not visible water droplets)

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Try this together

Can your child explain the difference between a solid like ice, a liquid like water, and a gas like steam, and sort everyday things into these three groups?

Where this sits on the map

Stuck here? Check the skills it builds on first. Confident? Here’s what it unlocks.

Builds on

Grouping Materialsages 5–6Must group materials by properties before classifying into three states of matter

States of Matter Vocabularyages 5–7Comparing and grouping materials as solids, liquids, or gases requires the naming vocabulary for the three states

Drawing Particle Diagramsages 7–11Comparing and grouping solids, liquids, and gases by properties is greatly aided by the particle diagram representation

Heating & Cooling Changesages 7–9Must classify states of matter before understanding changes between states

Changing Shapes of Solidsages 6–7Changing shapes of solids provides context for understanding solid properties

Solids, Liquids & Gasesthis skill · ages 8–9

Unlocks

Separating Mixturesages 9–10Must know solids/liquids/gases to decide appropriate separation techniques

Matter Is Made of Particlesages 10–11Must understand observable states of matter before modelling them with particles

The Particle Modelages 11–12KS3 particle model extends KS2 classification of solids, liquids and gases by observable properties

Advanced Material Propertiesages 9–11Understanding states of matter supports testing properties like solubility

solid = must come firstdashed = helps

Curriculum alignment

Candidate matches to official curriculum codes — machine-suggested, unreviewed (v0.1).

Show candidate curriculum codes · 3 ACARA · 3 VIC

Australian Curriculum v9 candidate

AC9S3U04medium confidenceYear 3 · Science understanding

investigate the observable properties of solids and liquids and how adding or removing heat energy leads to a change of state

AC9S4U04low confidenceYear 4 · Science understanding

examine the properties of natural and made materials including fibres, metals, glass and plastics and consider how these properties influence their use

AC9S2U03low confidenceYear 2 · Science understanding

recognise that materials can be changed physically without changing their material composition and explore the effect of different actions on materials including bending, twisting, stretching and breaking into smaller pieces

Victorian Curriculum 2.0 codes & levels only

VC2S6U03high confidenceScience · Levels 5 and 6 · Science Understanding strand

VC2S4U04high confidenceScience · Levels 3 and 4 · Science Understanding strand

VC2S2U04medium confidenceScience · Foundation to Level 2 · Science Understanding strand

These are candidate alignments generated by semantic matching — machine-suggested and unreviewed (v0.1), not official or verified mappings. For official curriculum content see australiancurriculum.edu.au, curriculum.nsw.edu.au and f10.vcaa.vic.edu.au. Don’t rely on them for registration or compliance purposes.

Nearby on the map

Evaporation & the Water Cycleages 8–9 Advanced Material Propertiesages 9–11 Changes & Separation Vocabularyages 7–9 Classifying Materialsages 7–8

All Matter & Materials skills →