States of Matter and Phase Changes NGSS Physical Science Review Puzzles MS-PS-1

A set of 8 puzzles that have students practice critical thinking skills and apply concepts related to states of matter, phase changes, and phase change graphs. The puzzles are designed to align with the NGSS physical science standards.

NGSS Standard Addressed:

• MS-PS-1-4 Develop a model that predicts and describes changes in particle motion, temperature, and state of a pure substance when thermal energy is added or removed.

Topics Covered:

1. Unicorn Hidden Message Students match the definitions to the vocabulary terms to solve the puzzle. Vocabulary Melting, condensation freezing, evaporation, boiling, phase change, thermal energy, collide, kinetic energy, thermometer, gas, solid, liquid, plasma Supports NGSS MS-PS-1-4
2. Fish True/False Message (2 VERSIONS) Students determine if the statement is true or false to solve the puzzle. Supports NGSS MS-PS-1-4. FALSE Statements and explanations given in teacher notes.
3. Banana Hidden Message Students have to interpret data from a heating curve to answer the questions. Students will apply boiling, melting, and what happens to the state of matter during a phase change (change of state)Supports NGSS MS-PS-1-4
4. Karate Pig Hidden Message Students have to interpret data from a cooling curve to answer the questions. Students will apply condensation and freezing and what happens to the state of matter during a phase change (change of state) I have found that many textbooks only have students work with heating curves and that working with a cooling curve requires them to apply knowledge to a novel situation and this is a good challenge for students. Some are confused about how a melting point and freezing point can be at the SAME temperature. Supports NGSS MS-PS-1-4
5. Mermaid Hidden Message Students have to interpret a model of a solid, liquid, or gas and answer questions about what would happen if thermal energy was added or removed from the material. Supports NGSS MS-PS-1-4
6. Llama Puzzle Students must interpret particle models of a solid, liquid, or gas. Supports NGSS MS-PS-1-4
7. Lemon Puzzle Students must determine if an image represents a solid, liquid, gas, or plasma. Solid: shirt and rock, liquid: water in a glass, gas: steam, smoke, helium in a balloon, plasma: plasma globe, lightning. Supports NGSS MS-PS-1-4
8. Funny Cat Puzzle Students must determine what type of phase change an image represents and identify the changes in state. Includes boiling, freezing, melting, evaporation, and condensation. Supports NGSS MS-PS-1-4

Usage Recommendations: These worksheets are versatile and can be utilized for independent practice, in stations, as homework assignments, or as part of emergency substitute teacher plans for unexpected schedule changes.

Contains

Cover, TOU, and credits (2 pages)

Teacher Notes 2 pages)

Puzzles (8 pages)Answer Key (8 pages)