Melting, Freezing, and Boiling

Ice melting into water and water boiling into steam may seem like dramatic transformations, but this passage shows students that these are physical changes-not chemical ones. Readers learn that although water changes from a solid to a liquid to a gas, every water molecule remains exactly the same. The passage explains that the Law of Conservation of Matter still applies because no matter is created or destroyed during these changes. Whether water freezes overnight or steam rises from a boiling pot, the total amount of matter stays constant. These familiar examples help students understand that changing a substance’s state is very different from creating a new substance.

Reading informational texts like this helps students recognize the difference between physical and chemical changes while strengthening their comprehension of scientific concepts. Children practice comparing different types of changes, identifying key details, and explaining how evidence supports scientific ideas. Vocabulary such as physical change, solid, liquid, gas, molecule, and conservation of matter builds both science knowledge and reading confidence. These everyday examples make abstract scientific principles easier to understand and remember.