You will learn
- Say what freezing is.
- Observe water freezing.
- Predict what happens to other liquids.
- Explain the link between freezing and melting.
Version 0.2 · expanded edition · built from cited public sources Content is based on the official frameworks and sources listed under Sources and standards. No official endorsement is claimed. Written in the style of common primary school assessments. No exam result is promised.
Student lesson
- Freezing is a liquid becoming a solid.
- Water freezes when it is cold enough.
- Freezing and melting are opposites.
- Water expands when it freezes.
Words to know
to change from a liquid to a solid when cooled
a very cold appliance
very low temperature
to take up more space
1. Discover: The lolly mould
Grace fills a lolly mould with juice and her father puts it in the freezer. The next morning it is hard. “The juice froze,” he says. “If you leave it out it will melt again.”
Think: What happened to the juice?
2. Understand: Freezing
Idea 1: What is freezing?
Freezing is when a liquid becomes a solid because it is cooled. Water freezes into ice in a freezer or on very cold days.
Idea 2: Melting and freezing
Melting and freezing are opposites. Warm ice and it melts; cool water and it freezes. Water can go back and forth.
Idea 3: Water expands
Water expands when it freezes, taking up more space. That is why a sealed full bottle of water can crack in a freezer. Always leave space at the top.
3. Worked examples
Example 1 (I show you): Freeze?
Water in a freezer.
- Cold.
- Becomes ice.
- Frozen.
Answer: Cold makes water freeze.
Example 2 (We do it together): Opposite
Melt and freeze.
- Warm: melt.
- Cool: freeze.
- Opposites.
Answer: They are opposite changes.
Example 3 (You try): Space
A bottle with water.
Show the steps and answer
- Ice takes more space.
- Leave room.
- Prevent cracks.
Answer: Leave space for expanding.
Did you know?
Ponds in very cold countries freeze on top, which keeps fish alive in the water below.
Why this matters
Freezing keeps food fresh and explains winter ice and frost.
4. Explore: Freeze and observe
Freeze water and juice in a freezer with an adult and compare.
- Fill two small cups half full.
- An adult places them in a freezer.
- Check after a few hours.
- Compare ice and frozen juice.
Think about it: what did you notice?
What did you notice? Both became solid.
5. Practise
Say it in a sentence
Use these starters when you talk about the lesson. Say them out loud.
- Freezing is a liquid becoming a ___.
- Freezers are very ___.
- Water ___ when it freezes.
- Melting is the ___ of freezing.
Guided practice
Question 1. What is freezing?
Liquid to solid.
Question 2. What do we need?
Cold.
Question 3. Name a frozen food.
Ice cream.
Independent practice
Level 1: Start
- What is freezing?
- What do we need?
- Name a frozen food.
- What is the opposite?
- Does water expand?
Level 2: Grow
- Why leave space in a bottle?
- Does juice freeze?
- What happens if ice warms?
Level 3: Stretch
- Plan a freezing test.
- Explain freezing and melting.
- Draw ice, water, ice.
Answers are in the answer key below. Try first, then check.
6. Apply: Science in everyday life
Where do people freeze food near you?
Show a sample answer
Fridges and freezers.
Another one. Tell a family member one thing from this lesson. Use the words you learned.
Show a sample answer
A clear sentence that uses at least one word from Words to know.
7. Common mistakes
Fix: Same material, new state.
Fix: Ice is cold.
8. Lesson summary and revision card
- I can say what freezing is.
- I can observe water freezing.
- I can predict what happens to other liquids.
- I can explain the link between freezing and melting.
9. Check and master
Answer all 14 questions. You will see feedback after each one.
Your result appears here after you answer every question.
10. Key takeaways
- Freezing is a liquid becoming a solid.
- Water freezes when it is cold enough.
- Freezing and melting are opposites.
- Water expands when it freezes.
11. Next lesson
Next lesson: Everyday uses of solids and liquids. Keep going with the next idea in this course.
Exam practice
These questions are written in the style of common school and international primary assessments. Try them on your own, without looking back. Then check your answers in the marking guide. The marks are shown in brackets.
- What is freezing? [2 marks]
- What is the opposite of freezing? [1 mark]
- Why leave space in a bottle? [2 marks]
- Plan a freezing test. [3 marks]
- Name two safety rules. [2 marks]
Total: 10 marks.
Marking guide and model answers
- Liquid to solid [1]; cooled [1]
- Melting [1]
- Expands [1]; avoids cracking [1]
- Two cups [1]; freezer with adult [1]; compare [1]
- Adult handles freezer [1]; no tongue/glass [1]
Score guide: 9 to 10 = secure. 6 to 8 = nearly there, revise the parts you missed. Under 6 = work through the lesson again with a grown-up.
Printable worksheet
- What is freezing?
- What do we need?
- Name a frozen food.
- What is the opposite?
- Does water expand?
- Why leave space in a bottle?
- Does juice freeze?
- What happens if ice warms?
- Plan a freezing test.
- Explain freezing and melting.
Homework
With an adult, freeze a small cup of water. Draw it before and after.
Answer key and marking scheme
| Question | Expected response | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1. What is freezing? | Liquid to solid. | 1 |
| 2. What do we need? | Cold. | 1 |
| 3. Name a frozen food. | Ice cream. | 1 |
| 4. What is the opposite? | Melting. | 1 |
| 5. Does water expand? | Yes, when frozen. | 1 |
| 6. Why leave space in a bottle? | Water expands. | 1 |
| 7. Does juice freeze? | Yes. | 1 |
| 8. What happens if ice warms? | It melts. | 1 |
| 9. Plan a freezing test. | Cups, freezer, record. | 1 |
| 10. Explain freezing and melting. | Opposites. | 1 |
| Total | 10 |
Independent practice answers. Level 1: 1 Liquid to solid.; 2 Cold.; 3 Ice cream.; 4 Melting.; 5 Yes, when frozen.. Level 2: 1 Water expands.; 2 Yes.; 3 It melts.. Level 3: 1 Cups, freezer, record.; 2 Opposites.; 3 Cycle..
Quiz answers: 1 B, 2 C, 3 A, 4 B, 5 C, 6 A, 7 B, 8 C, 9 A, 10 B, 11 C, 12 A, Challenge 1 B, Challenge 2 C.
Mastery and remediation
| Objective | Bronze (Developing) | Silver (Proficient) | Gold (Advanced) |
|---|---|---|---|
| O1 Say what freezing is | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O2 Observe water freezing | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O3 Predict what happens to other liquids | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O4 Explain the link between freezing and melting | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
Courseversity badge thresholds (overall quiz score): Gold = 90–100%; Silver = 80–89.9%; Bronze = 70–79.9%. A badge is never a full record of progress.
If a learner struggles
- Find the misconception: “Freezing makes new material.” Same material, new state.
- Explain another way: use real objects, pictures or actions first, then words.
- Show a simpler example: Explain freezing and how it relates to melting.
- Guided practice: work through one example together and let the learner try the next one.
- Reassess: use the quiz again or the worksheet.
- Move on when the learner shows Silver-level evidence independently.
For parents and guardians
In this lesson your child observes water freezing with an adult. You do not need to be an expert to help.
- Freeze water in a cup with you.
- Ask, “What will happen?”
- Check it together later.
- Ask “how do you know?” after each answer, and listen.
- Praise effort, not only right answers. Mistakes are how we learn.
- Ten to fifteen minutes a day is better than one long session.
Teacher package
1–5. Objectives, prerequisites, materials, preparation, duration
Lesson objectives. Learners will: say what freezing is; observe water freezing; predict what happens to other liquids; explain the link between freezing and melting.
Prerequisite knowledge. Grade 1 ideas: everyday materials, describing materials and sorting objects by properties.
Materials. Small plastic cups, water, juice and a freezer (adult use). Low-resource options: use chalk or charcoal on a board or wall, drawings in the sand, and objects from the classroom instead of printed materials.
Preparation. Prepare cups. Clear freezer space. Prepare record sheets.
Suggested duration. 45–60 minutes. It can be split into two shorter sessions.
6–9. Teaching procedure, explanation notes, guided and independent activities
Introduction (5 min). Show frozen juice and ask, “How did it change?”
Explanation (10 min). Teach freezing.
Guided activity (10 min). Learners prepare cups.
Independent activity (10 min). Learners compare next day.
Assessment and reflection (5 min). Ask each learner to say one thing they learned and how they know it.
Key questions. What changed? What caused it?
Teacher explanation notes. Start with real objects and safe, hands-on observation. Then talk about what was seen, then draw and write. Always say “how do you know?”. Keep to the safety notes, and use local, safe materials.
10–12. Differentiation, formative assessment, common misconceptions
Support. Use real objects and pictures, short sentences and a partner. Let learners point, show or draw instead of writing. Extension. Ask learners to find a new example at home and explain how they know.
Formative assessment. Listen to learners read and explain, ask “how do you know?”, and check the independent work.
Misconceptions. “Freezing makes new material.” Same material, new state.
13–15. Assessment questions, answer keys, marking scheme
Use the quiz, the 10-mark exam practice and the worksheet on this page. All answers and marking guides are in the answer sections above. Re-check every answer before use.
16–19. Remediation, enrichment, homework, teacher reflection
Remediation. Explain freezing and how it relates to melting. Enrichment. Look for one new example near your home or school, draw it and explain it to someone. Homework. See above.
Teacher reflection. After teaching, record: which ideas learners understood; which misconceptions occurred; which activities worked; which learners need more practice; and what to improve next time.
Sources and standards
This lesson is based on the sources below, and no official endorsement is claimed. Reference starting points: Next Generation Science Standards, Cambridge Primary Science and the IB Primary Years Programme. Where a standard code is named, it points to the official framework.
Research used to shape this lesson. Courseversity Science curriculum, Grade 2 Unit 5, topic 9; Next Generation Science Standards, structure and properties of matter (2-PS1); Cambridge Primary Science Stage 2, materials and their properties; IB Primary Years Programme, how the world works. These sources informed the lesson.