Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - Basic 6

Lesson Video

This page supports the lesson note with a companion video and a short classroom-ready summary.

For class groups and homework, share this lesson page so learners also get the summary, objectives, and full lesson context.

Performance objectives

• Define matter and identify its states.
• Classify matter into elements, compounds, and mixtures.
• Describe the properties of solids, liquids, and gases.
• Provide examples of each state of matter from everyday life.
• Explain the importance of understanding matter for our environment.

Lesson summary

Start the lesson by engaging learners with questions about their daily observations. "Class, think about what happens when you put water in the freezer. What do you get? (Ice). And if you leave that ice on the table? (It melts back to water). Now, think about frying an egg for your breakfast. Can you change the fried egg back into a raw, liquid egg? (No). Today, we are going to learn why some of these changes can be reversed and others cannot. We will explore the two main ways that matter can change: physical changes and chemical changes.

Lesson notes

Recap: What is Matter? Before we discuss changes, let's remember what matter is. Matter is anything that has mass (weight) and takes up space (volume). Everything around us is matter – the desk, the air we breathe, the water we drink, and even our bodies. Matter exists mainly in three states: solid, liquid, and gas. Part 1: Physical Changes

A physical change is a change in the form or appearance of a substance, but *not* its chemical identity. The substance is still the same substance, just in a different shape, size, or state.

Key Characteristics of a Physical Change: No new substance is formed. The particles of the substance are the same before and after the change. The change is usually easy to reverse. You can often get the original substance back. It involves changes in physical properties like: State (solid to liquid, liquid to gas, etc.) Shape or Size Texture Colour (e.g., mixing different coloured sands)

Demonstration & Examples (Ghanaian Context): Change of State: Activity: Show the learners an ice cube. Ask, "What is this?" (Solid water). Leave it in a plate to melt. Ask, "What is it now?" (Liquid water). "Is it still water?" (Yes). Explanation: Melting ice is a physical change. It changes from solid to liquid, but its chemical identity is still water (H₂O). We can reverse this by freezing the water back into ice. Local Example: Melting shea butter (`nkuto`) to apply on the skin. It becomes a liquid when warm but solidifies when it cools. It is still shea butter. Change in Shape or Size: Activity: Take a piece of paper and tear it into smaller pieces. Ask, "Is this still paper?" (Yes). Explanation: Tearing paper is a physical change. The paper is in smaller pieces, but its chemical makeup has not changed. Local Example: Grinding pepper, tomatoes, and onions for stew. You are just making the pieces smaller. They are still pepper, tomatoes, and onions. Another example is carving wood into a stool or a drum. The wood changes shape but it is still wood. Dissolving: Activity: Take a clear cup of water and stir in a spoonful of salt. The salt "disappears". Ask, "Is the salt gone forever?" (No, the water tastes salty). Explanation: Dissolving salt in water is a physical change. The salt particles are just spread out in the water. We can get the salt back by boiling the water away (evaporation). Local Example: Mixing sugar in `sobolo` or `asaana`. The sugar dissolves to make the drink sweet, but it is still sugar mixed with the drink. Part 2: Chemical Changes