Using Eggs to Teach the Properties of Matter

The states and properties of matter will be visited many times in a child's education.  Each time they will expand on their knowledge.  

The first introduction should have the students experience and discover the properties of matter.  The focus is on the 3 main states of matter:  solids, liquids, and gases. 

This unit contains 4 different activities.  Each uses the prior knowledge gained from the previous activity.

First record observations.  Each group is given 3 balloons.  One filled with air, one filled with liquid water, and one filled with ice.  They pass the papers around and record their observations.  This is done in a rally table.  They can not talk.  All communication is on paper.  I find they love this part of the challenge.  I include a word bank to help students.  We then have a class discussion on the properties.  We focus on what they have in common and what is different.

Now it is time to investigate.  Students will explore the properties of solids, liquids, and gasses inside eggs.  Students will use the scientific method to answer the question:

Does the state of an egg affect the spin of an egg? 

All the students really enjoyed spinning the eggs.  Have you ever tried it?  This investigation is perfect for meeting the NGSS Science and Engineering Practices.  We test a raw egg, hard-boiled egg, and an air-filled egg.  Easy supplies.  The toughest part is blowing the liquid out of the eggs ahead of time.  Here is a video showing the spin/touch test on a raw egg. 

After they learn how a raw egg will continue spinning they get an opportunity to share that knowledge.  This is so much fun.  They must challenge someone else to try and figure out if an egg is raw or hardboiled.  The students know the secret is to spin the egg.  They have a great time observing the adults trying to figure it out.  Then they teach the adult the spin/touch test.

We end with a Clay Ball Challenge.  At this point, they have a good understanding of the properties of matter.  They get to try those skills by trying to figure out what is in a clay ball.  They can not open the ball.  They can poke it with a toothpick.  Students enjoy guessing and opening their clay balls at the end.

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The complete unit can be found here.  It contains differentiated pages so it can be used with 2nd -5th grade.  Probably even 6th grade.

More Egg Explorations