WebQuests on Phases of Matter

WebQuest is an online interactive learning method which is gaining popularity among educators due to the wide range of information which can be provided to students. Each WebQuest has an introductory session which details the subject to be covered, guidance on resources to be used to learn about that subject, and finally an evaluation session. This article is intended to help teachers create their own states of matter WebQuest using online resources.

WebQuests are an excellent tool for teaching the states of matter as online activities will help your students to identify the properties of matter. Students can easily point out the differences between the first three states of matter, but the fourth state plasma, being impossible to detect from surrounding environment, should be accompanied with more concrete activities so that students can develop a thorough understanding on the topic.

Your WebQuest should begin by reviewing that every object on Earth, living and non-living, is made up of matter. It occurs in different forms - namely solid, liquid, gas and plasma - which each have their own characteristic properties. Some of the materials in one state change into another by absorbing or releasing energy. These processes are called sublimation, vaporization, condensation and freezing. This change of state is the reason behind many natural phenomenons like rain, snow and humidity. Unlike the other three states of matter, the plasma form occurs in natural places like the Sun and stars.

The National Earth Science Teachers Association provides a variety of resources on their site which will help you provide the background information students need to understand the four phases of matter.

There are several different types of activities you will want to include within your WebQuest.

Activity 1: Exploring Matter

Continue building on the information provided in your introduction by exploring what matter is. Questions to cover in your WebQuest include:

• What is the definition of matter?
• What are the constituents of matter?
• Explain the particle theory of matter?

Activity 2: The States of Matter

From there, you will want to begin to explore the states of matter. There are different websites on the states of matter which teachers can use. It is better to start with simple ones like Study jams and HMNH School Publishers. For a more in-depth discussion, consider using websites like NASA for a more elaborate description on each state of matter. Possible questions to explore with your states of matter WebQuest would be:

• What are the four states of matter?
• Give examples of each state of matter?
• List the physical properties of solids, liquids and gases?
• List the chemical properties of three states?
• Explain how will you differentiate changes of matter as physical and chemical?
• What is the difference between intensive and extensive properties?
• What is the driving force behind a change?

Activity 3: How does change in the states of matter occur?

Understanding how the matter changes from one state to another should be an essential component to your states of matter WebQuest. Teachers will find that Chem4kids.com and the Idaho Public Television site both offer age-appropriate information for students. Some questions you may wish to cover include:

• What is sublimation?
• How will you explain condensation?
• Define vaporization?
• What is freezing?

Activity 4: Plasma

The concept of plasma will be the most difficult for students to comprehend. Take a tour through FusEdWeb and Space Weather Center to understand plasma and provide natural examples for this state. Questions to cover include:

• Explain the state plasma?
• Who are the innovators in the field of plasma?
• Why is Plasma important in the study of the Universe?

As an evaluation tool teacher can use BBC and Space Weather which have questions on it. You may also direct them to write a report on the states of matter describing each state and its properties. The Rubric given below may be used to assess the students. 

If you know of additional sites which could be of benefit to teachers looking to create their own WebQuest on the states of matter, feel free to leave them in the comments section below.

The National Earth Science Teachers Association http://www.windows2universe.org/sun/Solar_interior/Sun_layers/Core/four_states.html

Study Jams http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/studyjams/matter_states/

HMNH School Publishers http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/states_of_matter/

NASA http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/state.html

Idaho Public Televisoin http://idahoptv.org/dialogue4kids/season7/matter/facts.cfm

Chem4Kids http://www.chem4kids.com/files/matter_states.html