States of matter is a foundational physical science topic that Grade 3 students explore in depth. Third graders learn to identify and describe the three main states — solid, liquid, and gas — by their properties, and discover that matter can change from one state to another when heated or cooled. These concepts appear in everyday observations: ice melting in a glass, steam rising from a kettle, and dew forming on a cold morning.
Students commonly confuse the properties of liquids and gases, assuming gases take up no space or that liquids have a fixed shape. The key concept to understand is that each state differs in how closely packed its particles are and how much they move. In earlier grades, students described physical properties of objects; by Grade 4, they will explore the particle model more deeply and investigate mixtures and solutions. Grade 3 states-of-matter vocabulary and state-change reasoning underpins all of that work.
Our states of matter worksheets give third graders guided practice identifying solid, liquid, and gas examples, correcting property descriptions, working through state-change processes like melting, freezing, evaporation, and condensation, and reasoning about everyday phenomena involving matter.
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Browse all 12 printable worksheets below — click any card to open the full page.
States of Matter
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What's Included in This Download
What You'll Learn
These states of matter worksheets help grade 3 students develop essential science skills through engaging activities.
Learning Objectives
- Solids: Properties
- Liquids: Properties
- Gases: Properties
- State Changes: Melting, freezing, evaporation, condensation
- Daily Examples in life
Skills Covered
How to Use These Worksheets
- Download & Print: Click the download button to get the PDF. Print on standard 8.5" x 11" paper.
- Start Simple: Begin with easier pages before moving to more challenging activities.
- Daily Practice: Dedicate 10-15 minutes each day for consistent learning.
- Use Manipulatives: Pair worksheets with physical objects like blocks or counters.
- Provide Encouragement: Celebrate progress and effort to build confidence.
- Check Progress: Use the included answer key to review work together.
Common Mistakes to Watch For
- Believing that a liquid has a definite shape — students sometimes describe juice or water as having a fixed shape, not recognizing that a liquid always takes the shape of its container while keeping a definite volume.
- Thinking a gas has no volume and takes up no space — students often say a gas is 'nothing' or 'just air,' missing the key property that a gas expands to fill its entire container and has mass.
- Confusing evaporation with condensation — students mix up the direction of the state change, sometimes calling the droplets forming on a cold glass 'evaporation' when it is actually condensation (gas becoming liquid).
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the three states of matter and their key properties?
A solid has a definite shape and a definite volume — it keeps its form whether you put it in a different container or not. A liquid has a definite volume but no definite shape — it takes the shape of whatever container it is in. A gas has no definite shape and no definite volume — it expands to completely fill any container it is placed in.
What is the difference between melting and freezing?
Melting is when a solid is heated and changes into a liquid — for example, ice melting into water. Freezing is when a liquid is cooled enough that it changes into a solid — for example, water turning into ice in a freezer. Both are reversible physical changes: if you re-freeze melted ice, you get a solid again.
What is evaporation and when does it happen?
Evaporation is when a liquid gains enough heat energy to change into a gas. A puddle drying up on a sunny day, wet laundry drying on a line, and water boiling away in a pot are all evaporation. The water does not disappear — it becomes invisible water vapor in the air. Evaporation happens faster at higher temperatures.
What is condensation and where do you see it in everyday life?
Condensation is the opposite of evaporation — water vapor (a gas) cools down and changes back into liquid water. Common examples include water droplets forming on the outside of a cold glass on a warm day, fog forming when warm moist air meets a cold surface, and frost forming on windows in winter.
How does temperature affect the state of matter?
Adding heat gives particles more energy, making them move faster and farther apart, which can change a solid to a liquid (melting) or a liquid to a gas (evaporation). Removing heat slows particles down and brings them closer together, changing a gas to a liquid (condensation) or a liquid to a solid (freezing). Water's changes happen at 0°C (freezing/melting) and 100°C (boiling/condensing) at standard pressure.
Are these worksheets really free?
Yes! All our worksheets are 100% free to download and print. There's no subscription, no hidden fees, and no registration required.
Can I use these in my classroom?
Absolutely! Teachers are welcome to print and use these worksheets in their classrooms. Make as many copies as needed for your students.