Year 4 Science: Solids
Part of the Year 4 Science solids, liquids and gases chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Solids
A solid keeps its own shape. It does not flow, and it is hard to squash. Wood, metal, rock, plastic and ice are all solids.
If you put a solid in a container, it stays the same shape. It does not spread out to fill the container.
Key ideas
- A solid keeps its own shape.
- A solid does not flow, and it is hard to squash.
- Wood, metal, rock, plastic and ice are solids.
- A solid stays the same shape in any container.
Method. Think about which one keeps its shape.
- Look at each one. Water and milk flow, so they are not solids. Wood keeps its own shape.keeps its shape
- Name the solid. So the solid is wood.wood
- Write the answer. wood
Check. Wood is hard and keeps its shape. ✓
Method. Check the spoon.
- Check its shape. A metal spoon keeps its own shape and does not flow.keeps its shape
- Decide. So a metal spoon is a solid, and the answer is yes.yes
- Write the answer. yes
Check. Metal is hard and keeps its shape. ✓
Method. Think about ice.
- Think about its shape. A piece of ice keeps its own shape.own shape
- Name the state. So ice is a solid.solid
- Write the answer. solid
Check. Ice is frozen water, and it keeps its shape. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: a solid can be broken into small pieces, but each piece is still a solid. Solids do not become liquids just because they are cut up.
Try it at home or school (with a grown-up). Put a wooden block, a metal spoon and a plastic cup on a table, with a grown-up. Push each one gently with your finger. Say which one keeps its shape, and which one does not.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask: “Does it keep its shape when you put it down? Can you squash it?” Let your child use the words solid, hard and shape.
Exercise 6A Solids
Method. Think about which one keeps its shape.
- Look at each one. Water and milk flow; wood keeps its own shape.keeps its shape
- Write the answer. wood
Check. A solid keeps its shape. ✓
Method. Read the key idea in section 6.1.
- Read the key idea. A solid keeps its own shape.own shape
- Write the answer. yes
Check. A solid does not change shape unless it is forced. ✓
Method. Read the key idea in section 6.1.
- Read the key idea. A solid is hard to squash.squash
- Write the answer. squash
Check. Squashing changes the shape of an object. ✓
Method. Think about which one keeps its shape.
- Look at each one. Cooking oil flows, and ice keeps its own shape.keeps its shape
- Write the answer. ice
Check. Ice is frozen water, and it is a solid. ✓
Method. Check the spoon.
- Check the spoon. A metal spoon is hard, and keeps its shape.hard
- Write the answer. yes
Check. Metal is a solid. ✓
Method. Look at the solids in the table.
- Look at the table. The solids include wood, ice, metal spoon, rock and plastic bottle.solids
- Write the answer. Accept any one of: wood, ice, metal spoon, rock, plastic bottle.
Check. Any one of these five is a solid. ✓
Method. Think about the rock.
- Think about its shape. A rock keeps its shape, so it is a solid.solid
- Write the answer. solid
Check. A rock is a solid. ✓
Method. Check each one.
- Check each one. Wood and the metal spoon are solids. Water is a liquid.two solids
- Count them. So 2 of these are solids.2
- Write the answer. 2
Check. Water flows, so it is not a solid. ✓
Method. Think about what pouring needs.
- Think about pouring. Pouring needs a material that flows, which is a liquid.flows
- Decide. A solid does not flow, so Ali is not right.no
- Write the answer. no
Check. Solids keep their shape and do not flow. ✓
Method. Think about a solid on a table.
- Think about the solid. A solid keeps its own shape, even on a table.keeps its shape
- Decide. So a solid does not change shape on a table.no
- Write the answer. no
Check. Keeping its shape is the feature of a solid. ✓
Method. Think about what a solid does in a container.
- Think about the wood. Wood is a solid, so it keeps its own shape.own shape
- Make the prediction. So the block keeps its shape in the bowl.yes
- Write the answer. yes
Check. Test your prediction with a grown-up. ✓
Method. Think about the spoon.
- Think about its shape. The spoon keeps its own shape.own shape
- Write the reason. A material that keeps its shape and does not flow is a solid.does not flow
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says a metal spoon keeps its own shape and does not flow, so it is a solid.
Check. Both features show that the spoon is a solid. ✓