Classification of Matter Worksheet & Answer Key | Science - Free Printable

It looks like you've uploaded two pages from an educational worksheet titled "Amazing Matter", which is designed to teach students about the three states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas. The activity involves identifying characteristics of each state and using them to help a mouse find its way through a maze by coloring specific squares.

Let’s solve the task step-by-step based on what's visible in the image.

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🔍 Objective of the Worksheet

The goal is:
- To identify properties of solids, liquids, and gases.
- To color squares according to the state of matter they represent:
- Red for liquid
- Green for gas
- Yellow for solid
- Then draw a path (using the colored squares) for the mouse to reach the cheese.

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✔ Step 1: Understand the Properties

Each state has key physical properties:

| State | Key Properties |
|------|----------------|
| Solid | Definite shape and size; particles are tightly packed; does not flow easily. |
| Liquid | Definite volume but no definite shape; takes the shape of the container; flows. |
| Gas | No definite shape or volume; expands to fill container; particles move freely. |

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🧩 Step 2: Match Clues to States

Now let’s analyze the clues on the right-hand page (the one with the maze):

#### 🔹 Liquid (Color: Red)
Look for clues that describe:
- "has a definite size but no shape"
- "water takes this form above 100°C" → No! That’s gas.
- "takes the shape of the container but has a definite volume" → ✔ This is liquid.
- "water takes this form below 0°C" → ✘ That’s solid.
- "water changes to this state between 0°C and 100°C" → ✔ Liquid.
- "can be poured" → ✔ Liquid.

So, any square with:
- “has a definite size but no shape”
- “takes the shape of the container but has a definite volume”
- “can be poured”
- “water changes to this state between 0°C and 100°C”

→ These should be colored red.

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#### 🔹 Gas (Color: Green)
Clues:
- "has no definite size or shape"
- "water takes this form above 100°C" → ✔ Gas
- "takes the shape and size of any container"
- "things take this form when..." → likely refers to evaporation or heating

So:
- “has no definite size or shape” → ✔ Gas
- “water takes this form above 100°C” → ✔ Gas
- “takes the shape and size of any container” → ✔ Gas

These should be colored green.

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#### 🔹 Solid (Color: Yellow)
Clues:
- "has a definite shape and size"
- "water takes this form below 0°C" → ✔ Ice = solid
- "doesn’t change shape when moved" → ✔ Solid
- "particles are close together and vibrate" → ✔ Solid

So:
- “has a definite shape and size” → ✔ Solid
- “water takes this form below 0°C” → ✔ Solid
- “does not flow easily” → ✔ Solid

These should be colored yellow.

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🐭 Step 3: Solve the Maze

After coloring all squares correctly:
- Red squares = liquid
- Green squares = gas
- Yellow squares = solid

Then, draw a path from the mouse to the cheese using only the yellow (solid) squares, because:
> The instructions say: *"Color the squares about liquid red, about gases green, and the squares about solids yellow. Then draw a line on the yellow path for the mouse to get to the cheese."*

✔ So the mouse must travel only on solid squares — meaning the path should go through yellow squares only.

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✔ Final Answer & Explanation

Solution Steps:

1. Identify each clue and match it to the correct state of matter.
2. Color the squares:
- Red: liquid (e.g., “can be poured”, “takes container shape but fixed volume”)
- Green: gas (e.g., “no definite shape or size”, “above 100°C”)
- Yellow: solid (e.g., “definite shape and size”, “below 0°C”)
3. Draw a continuous path using only yellow (solid) squares from the mouse to the cheese.

This teaches students:
- How to classify matter based on physical properties.
- The importance of state-specific behaviors (like melting, boiling).
- Visual problem-solving using logic.

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💡 Example Clue Matching

| Clue | State | Color |
|------|-------|-------|
| Water takes this form below 0°C | Solid | Yellow |
| Can be poured | Liquid | Red |
| Takes the shape and size of any container | Gas | Green |
| Has a definite shape and size | Solid | Yellow |
| Water changes to this state between 0°C and 100°C | Liquid | Red |
| Has no definite size or shape | Gas | Green |

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📝 Conclusion

To complete the worksheet:
- Color each square based on the state described.
- Draw a path only through yellow (solid) squares from the mouse to the cheese.

This reinforces understanding of the properties of matter and helps students apply scientific concepts in a fun, interactive way.

Let me know if you'd like a visual representation of the colored path or a printable version of the solution!