Matter Lab Teacher Guide Matter Lab Teacher Guide
Lesson: Physical vs. Chemical Changes
Duration 50 Minutes
Learning Objective
Students will distinguish between reversible (physical) and irreversible (chemical) changes by analyzing video examples and sorting real-world scenarios.
Materials Needed
Ice cubes and small plates
"Sort It Out" Card Decks (1 per pair)
"Change Tracker" T-Chart Worksheet
Glue sticks and scissors
Classroom Anchor Chart paper
Instructional Sequence
5 MIN
Ice Cube Race (Warm-up)
Place an ice cube on a desk or plate. Observe it for 2 minutes.
Discussion Questions: "What is happening to the ice cube? If we wanted to get the solid ice cube back, could we? How?"
10 MIN
Lighthouse Lab Video Analysis
Watch the "Physical and Chemical Change" video. Use the following pause points for guided discussion:
1:46 "Is the paper still paper? How do we know it hasn't changed chemically?"
3:00 "When ice melts, is it still water? Is this physical or chemical? Why?"
4:16 "What are the clues that a chemical change happened here? Can we turn ash back into wood?"
15 MIN
Sort It Out Activity
Students work in pairs with the Sort It Out Card Deck .
Cut out the 8 change cards.
Discuss each card with your partner: Is it reversible or irreversible?
Glue them onto the Change Tracker T-Chart in the correct column.
10 MIN
Class Anchor Chart (Extension)
Create a large T-chart on the board/anchor paper. Have students share their findings to summarize the key differences between physical (reversible) and chemical (irreversible) changes.
Key Vocabulary
Matter
The stuff everything is made of.
Physical Change
Change in appearance without making new matter.
Chemical Change
Matter changes into a completely new substance.
Irreversible
Cannot be changed back to the original form.
Matter Lab Presentation MATTER LAB
Physical & Chemical Changes
Today's Goal: Identifying Reversible and Irreversible Changes
Warm-Up: Ice Cube Race
Watch the ice cube on your desk.
What is happening to it right now?
Big Question:
If we wanted to get the solid ice cube back, could we do it? How?
🧊
Lighthouse Lab Analysis
Watch & Learn
Embedded media
Get ready to pause and discuss at 1:46, 3:00, 4:16, and 5:03!
PAUSE AT 1:46 & 3:00
Physical Change
The host cut paper and folded origami.
Is the paper still paper? How do we know it didn't change "matter"?
REVERSIBLE
Most physical changes can be undone . We can unfold the paper or freeze the water back into ice.
PAUSE AT 4:16 & 5:03
Chemical Change
The host lit a match.
What clues show a chemical change happened? (Heat, light, smoke!)
IRREVERSIBLE
Chemical changes create new matter . You can't turn ash back into wood or a baked cake back into flour!
Sort It Out!
Your Mission with a Partner:
1
CUT
Cut out all the "Change" cards
2
SORT
Decide: Reversible or Irreversible?
3
GLUE
Stick them on your T-Chart
Change Tracker Worksheet Change Tracker
Physical vs. Chemical Changes
Name:
Date:
Instructions
Think about the matter on each card. Does it change into something new (Chemical), or does it just look different (Physical)? Use your cards to sort the changes into the correct columns.
REVERSIBLE
Physical Changes
IRREVERSIBLE
Chemical Changes
Matter Lab Detective Agency © 2026
Sort It Out Cards Deck Sort It Out! Card Deck
Cut along the dotted lines. Sort into Reversible and Irreversible.
🧈
Melting Butter
The butter turns from solid to liquid in a hot pan.
🎂
Baking a Cake
Mixing flour, eggs, and sugar, then baking them in an oven.
🍷
Breaking Glass
A glass jar falls and shatters into many tiny pieces.
🚲
Rusting Bicycle
A metal bike left in the rain turns brown and flaky.
🏗️
Folding Paper
Making a paper crane out of a flat sheet of paper.
🔥
Burning Wood
Logs in a fireplace turning into grey ash and smoke.
🍦
Ice Cream Melting
A cold scoop of ice cream turning into a sticky puddle.
🍳
Frying an Egg
The clear liquid part of an egg turning white and solid.
Teacher Tip: If a change creates a new substance that can't be turned back, it's Chemical/Irreversible!
Change Detectives Anchor Chart Change Detectives
Reversible vs. Irreversible
Physical
Often Reversible
CLUES:
Same matter, just a new look!
Changes in size or shape .
Changes in state (ice to water).
Can be changed back!
🧊 📄 🧈 🏗️
Chemical
Often Irreversible
CLUES:
New matter is formed!Production of heat or light .
Smell, smoke, or color change .
Cannot be changed back!
🔥 🎂 🚲 🍳
"Matter is never created or destroyed—it just changes!"
