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On September 24, 2025, STEAM in Action had its first of five sessions with students at Rice Intermediate School in San Carlos, AZ. The STEAM Team spent 45 minutes facilitating inquiry-based learning and hands-on activities with each 5th-grade class (6 total).
The session was developed to align with Arizona’s 5th-Grade Science Standard - 5.P1.U1.1: Analyze and interpret data to explain that matter of any type can be subdivided into particles too small to see and, in a closed system, if properties change or chemical reactions occur, the amount of matter stays the same. Additionally, the STEAM Team reviewed common misconceptions and challenges students were experiencing to intentionally target those concepts.
We began by exploring the Phases of Matter related to water - ice, room temperature water, and boiling water, releasing steam - water vapor. Discussion took place around whether it was a closed or open system, whether the lid(s) were on or off. In small groups, students then added sugar cubes to jars of water to form a solution; understanding that the sugar didn’t disappear but instead a chemical reaction took place. This allowed for thought-provoking conversation around physical vs. chemical changes. Lastly, we explored the water molecule - made with 1 hydrogen atom and 2 oxygen atoms. Students randomly were given hydrogen or oxygen elemental symbol cards and challenged to form a water molecule. The groups of water molecules then acted out the different Phases of Matter and how water moves through the water cycle.