Tea: States of Matter, Temperature and Particle Models
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Overview
time:
7
-
10
class periods
standards:
MS-PS1-1*, MS-PS1-3, MS-PS1-4, MS-LS1-8
science concepts:
heat and energy, states of matter, particle models
Summary
Unpack the process of making tea by modeling particle behavior in different states of matter, temperatures, and mixtures, exploring how tea is made, and investigating why we smell things.
This lesson was recently updated.
Update Date:
November 2025
Summary of Updates
Updates in November 2025:
● Heavier emphasis on temperature- temperature investigation lab moved to lesson 1.3 (not 1.5) and temperature discussed more in smell lessons
● Heavier emphasis on gases/states of matter in smell lesson (introduction gases)
● 2 new simulations to help model and visualize smell particles
Updates in March 2025:
● Heavier emphasis on introduction to particle models; centered around explaining what happens when sugar dissolves (Lesson 1.1)
● Heavily modified Lesson 1.3 (What is smell?)
Additional Updates in May 2025:
● New: Lesson 1.6 (What’s the best way to keep our tea hot?)- added to meet standards
● Light updates to reading on smell to better emphasize concept of mixtures
Updates in November 2025:
● Heavier emphasis on temperature- temperature investigation lab moved to lesson 1.3 (not 1.5) and temperature discussed more in smell lessons
● Heavier emphasis on gases/states of matter in smell lesson (introduction gases)
● 2 new simulations to help model and visualize smell particles
Updates in March 2025:
● Heavier emphasis on introduction to particle models; centered around explaining what happens when sugar dissolves (Lesson 1.1)- Use to assess student understanding of particles, particle models, and matter. Also provides easy ways to introduce CERs.
● Heavily modified Lesson 1.3 (What is smell?): Added in
Additional Updates in May 2025:
● New: Lesson 1.6 (What’s the best way to keep our tea hot?)- Students explore how different materials transfer heat and explore porous materials. They also look at 2 simulations that show the transfer of energy through collisions. Activities based on Open Sci Ed alignment and meeting standards from Open Sci Ed Unit 6.2 Thermal Energy.
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Simulations for this Lesson
Tea and Temperature
Modeling Smell
How is Tea Made?
Comparing Gases & Liquids
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