Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
States of Matter Particles: Free Printable Worksheet for Year 7
- ForYear 7
- StageKey Stage 3
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
States of Matter Particles is a free printable science worksheet for Year 7 (ages 11 to 12), in Key Stage 3. Children fill the gaps in a short passage, then draw dots to show particles in each box. It needs only a pencil, and page 2 gives the grown up notes, help for children who find it hard and a stretch idea.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to the child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children meet solids, liquids and gases through the particle model. First they fill the gaps in a passage, using the word bank if they need it. Then they move from words to pictures and draw dots for the particles in each box. The passage also asks them to name melting and boiling. There is room to add notes, so children can explain their drawings in their own words.
- Solid
- Liquid
- Gas
Why scientists use a particle model
Everything around us is matter, and matter is made of particles that are far too small to see. Scientists cannot look at them directly in a classroom, so they use a model. A model is a simple picture or idea that helps explain what we observe. The particle model helps explain why solids, liquids and gases behave so differently.
Drawing dots on paper turns an invisible idea into something children can check and discuss. It makes them think about where the particles are and how they might move. The dots are a simplification. Particles are not tiny pieces of ice or tiny drops of water, so the dots stand for particles of any substance.
Quick facts about matter
- Matter is anything that has mass and takes up space.
- Particles are far too small to see with your eyes alone.
- Water is one of the few substances you meet as a solid, a liquid and a gas in everyday life.
- Air is a mixture of gases, mostly nitrogen and oxygen.
- Scientists use models, such as dots on paper, to explain things that are too small to see.
Skills and curriculum link
- Particle model
- Scientific vocabulary
- Drawing models
- Explaining ideas
- Careful reading
Ways to support the thinking
- Ask for a reasonWhen your child fills a gap, ask why that word fits. A reason shows more understanding than a quick answer.
- Link words and picturesAfter the passage is complete, ask your child to point to the words that match each drawing.
- Talk about the modelRemind your child that dots are a simple model. Ask what the dots show and what they leave out.
- Read it aloudRead the finished passage out loud. If a sentence sounds wrong, it is a good clue to check that gap again.
Key words
- MatterAnything that has mass and takes up space.
- ParticleA tiny piece of matter, far too small to see.
- State of matterThe form matter takes. The three main states are solid, liquid and gas.
- ModelA simple picture or idea that helps explain something we cannot see directly.
- SolidA state of matter that keeps its own shape.
- LiquidA state of matter that can be poured.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for the child. Keep page 2 for the grown up.
- Read the passage through once and look at the word bank before writing anything.
- Fill the gaps first, then draw dots for particles in each box.
- Work through the activity together the first time. Talk about each choice, then check against the notes on page 2.
- Come back to it another day. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Use the word bank and cross out each word once it is used. Read the whole passage aloud once it is filled, and listen for any sentence that sounds wrong. Do the drawing boxes one at a time, and say what each dot is showing.
To stretch confident children
Ask: why does a gas fill its whole container? Encourage your child to answer using the particle model and a labelled drawing. Then ask them to explain their idea to someone else, using only dots and arrows.
Make it a game
Play a calling game with a group. One person calls out solid, liquid or gas. Everyone else moves as they think the particles in that state would move. Afterwards, compare the movements with the finished sheet and talk about any differences.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forA child draws the particles as tiny copies of the material, such as small ice cubes or drops.
Try thisExplain that particles are shown as simple dots, all the same size. The dots are a model, not a picture of the material.
Watch forA child draws a different number of dots in each box, so it looks like there is more or less stuff.
Try thisTry using the same number of dots in each box. Then the drawings compare how the particles are arranged, not how many there are.
Watch forA child fills the gaps quickly without reading the whole passage.
Try thisRead the finished passage aloud. Any sentence that sounds odd is a clue to go back and check that gap.
Talk about it
- What is a model in science, and why do scientists use them?
- Why can we not simply look at particles to see what they do?
- What does your drawing show well? What does it leave out?
- Which state of matter do you find hardest to draw, and why?
- Where have you seen something change from one state to another?
- How would you explain your drawings to a younger child?
Take it off the page
Spot the states
Walk around the house or classroom and list things that are solids, liquids or gases. Talk about anything that is hard to place.
Act it out
Use a group of friends or family as particles. Try different ways of standing and moving, and decide which best matches each state.
Watch an ice cube
Put an ice cube in a bowl in a room. Draw it at the start and again later, and describe what has changed. No heat is needed.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit with your child for the first go and let them lead. You do not need to be a scientist. Ask them to explain each drawing to you, and praise clear thinking as well as correct words.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing. Page 2 offers support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups, and the drawing task shows who has grasped the particle model.
Home educators
Print it as part of a wider science plan and pair it with books, outdoor play and everyday talk. The sheet is free, so you can reuse it for brothers and sisters or for revision a few weeks later.
Where this fits
In Key Stage 2, children group materials as solids, liquids and gases and observe how some materials change state. They learn the ideas in everyday words, based on what they can see and touch.
In Key Stage 3, the particle model gives a reason for those observations. Later work builds on it to explain ideas such as changes of state, diffusion and gas pressure, so a clear picture now helps in Years 8 and 9.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is States of Matter Particles for?
It is written for Year 7 (ages 11 to 12), in Key Stage 3. It also works as revision for older children who want to recap the particle model, or as a stretch task for confident Year 6 pupils.
- What will children practise?
Children describe how particles are arranged and move in solids, liquids and gases, and name melting and boiling, in line with the KS3 particle model. They also practise drawing a model to show their ideas.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters, other classes or revision whenever you need it.
- What if it feels too hard?
Use the word bank, and read the whole passage aloud once it is filled. Then do the drawing boxes one at a time. Page 2 has help ideas for children who find it hard.
- Is it suitable for teachers to use in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing, and page 2 gives support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups.
- Is this a screen free activity?
Yes. It needs only paper and a pencil, so it works well for quiet time, rainy days and school holidays. Writing and drawing by hand also gets children talking and thinking.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. The drawing task uses dots, so a pencil is all that children need.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.