What Are the States of Matter?

🕐 4 min 17 sec 👦 Ages 6–8 🌍 English
Join Owlo and Koko as they explore the fascinating states of matter, learning about solids, liquids, and gases in a fun way!
Identify the three states of matter Understand the concept of matter Recognize examples of each state
📖 Story Script
                    Koko:
                    Owlo! Owlo! Something really strange happened at lunch today. I have to tell you about it.
                
                    Owlo:
                    Come in, Koko. You look like you just discovered something big. What happened?
                
                    Koko:
                    I had hot chocolate, and I left it on the table for a while. When I came back, there was this weird skin on top. What was that?
                
                    Owlo:
                    Oh, that is a wonderful observation, Koko. What you saw is actually connected to something called states of matter.
                
                    Koko:
                    States of matter? That sounds really serious. Like, is matter in trouble?
                
                    Owlo:
                    Not at all. Matter just means everything around us that takes up space. Your cup, the chocolate, even the air you breathe.
                
                    Koko:
                    Wait, so everything is matter? Even me?
                
                    Owlo:
                    Yes, even you. And matter can exist in different forms, which we call states. There are three main ones.
                
                    Koko:
                    Three? What are they called?
                
                    Owlo:
                    They are called solid, liquid, and gas. Let me show you something. Come over to the science lab with me.
                
                    Owlo:
                    Here we go. I have three things on this table. An ice cube, a glass of water, and this balloon filled with air.
                
                    Koko:
                    Oh, I see them. The ice cube is hard, the water is wet and sloshy, and the balloon is all puffy.
                
                    Owlo:
                    Exactly. The ice cube is a solid. Solids are firm and they keep their shape. You cannot squish them easily.
                
                    Koko:
                    Like my wooden pencil case, or a rock, or a cookie.
                
                    Owlo:
                    Perfect examples. Now, the water in the glass is a liquid. Liquids flow and take the shape of whatever container they are in.
                
                    Koko:
                    Oh! So if I pour water into a bowl, it becomes bowl-shaped. And if I pour it into a bottle, it becomes bottle-shaped.
                
                    Owlo:
                    That is exactly right. You are thinking like a scientist, Koko.
                
                    Koko:
                    And the balloon is the gas one, right? Because air is inside it?
                
                    Owlo:
                    Correct. Gas spreads out to fill whatever space it is in. You cannot see air, but it is definitely there.
                
                    Koko:
                    So my hot chocolate was a liquid. But what made that weird skin on top?
                
                    Owlo:
                    Great question. When hot liquid cools down, it can change its state. Part of the chocolate started becoming more solid near the surface.
                
                    Koko:
                    So it was turning from a liquid into a solid? Right there in my cup?
                
                    Owlo:
                    Exactly. Matter can change from one state to another when it heats up or cools down. Ice melts into water when it gets warm.
                
                    Koko:
                    And water freezes back into ice when it gets cold. I have seen that in the freezer at home.
                
                    Owlo:
                    And when water gets very, very hot, it turns into steam. Steam is water that has become a gas.
                
                    Koko:
                    I have seen steam coming from soup. So the soup was turning into gas a little bit?
                
                    Owlo:
                    A little bit, yes. The top layer of the liquid was escaping into the air as gas. We call that evaporation.
                
                    Koko:
                    Evaporation. That is a cool word. So matter is always changing around us and we do not even notice.
                
                    Owlo:
                    That is a beautiful way to put it. The world is full of matter changing states, every single day.
                
                    Koko:
                    Okay, I feel like I need to think about this. Can I try to say it all back to you?
                
                    Owlo:
                    Please do. I would love to hear it.
                
                    Koko:
                    So, everything around us is made of matter. Matter comes in three states: solid, liquid, and gas. Solids keep their shape, like ice or a rock. Liquids flow and take the shape of their container, like water or hot chocolate. Gases spread out everywhere, like air in a balloon. And matter can change states when it gets hot or cold. That is why ice melts, water freezes, and soup makes steam. Oh, and next time I leave my hot chocolate, I will just say it is doing science.
                
                    Owlo:
                    That was a perfect summary, Koko. I think next time we could explore what happens when gases cool down and become liquids again.
                
                    Koko:
                    Wait, gases can turn back into liquids too? There is always more to learn with you, Owlo.