What Is the World Made Of? (All About Solids, Liquids, and Gases) by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld, and illustrated by Paul Meisel, is a great resource to use when exploring matter. The book begins by explaining what matter is in terms children can readily understand. “Walls and blocks, dolls and socks. Milk and lemonade. Rocks and trees. All these things are made of matter” (page 6). After reviewing the basic definition of matter, the book goes on to discuss the three different states of matter; solid, liquid and gas. Zoehfeld does an excellent job making matter understandable to children.
“Liquids have no shape. You pour a glass of milk for your little sister, and the milk takes on the shape of the glass. If she knocks it over, the milk spreads out on the tabletop…Milk is not round or square-it has no shape” (page 12).
After thoroughly explaining each state of matter, the book discusses how matter can change states (ie: from liquid to gas, liquid to solid). The book provides examples of changes in states of matter, making the subject understandable for the elementary school reader.
Curriculum Connections
What Is the World Made Of? is appropriate for use in the kindergarten and second grade curricula. The entire book would be a great tool to use when discussing that water occurs in three states; solid, liquid and gas (SOL K.5 a). What Is the World Made of? can also be used at a more advanced level, when students study matter in greater depth. Pages 9-16 provide a clear and concise explaination of the basic properties of solids, liquids, and gases (SOL 2.3). Additionally, pages 19-27 tie in perfectly when discussing processes involved with changes in matter from one state to another (SOL 2.3 b).
Additional Resources
- This Oobleck experiment is a fun and interesting way for students to further investigate solids and liquids.
- This worksheet can be used to review the states of matter.
- This online game is an interactive way to see if children are grasping the concept of matter.
Book: What Is the World Made Of? (All About Solids, Liquids, and Gases)
Author: Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld
Illustrator: Paul Meisel
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: 1998
Pages: 28
Grade Range: K-2
ISBN: 978-0-06-445163-5