Science · Stage 5

Investigate: Modelling Particles

Use marbles to model how particles pack, slide and zoom — then run a fair test and read the pattern in your data like a real scientist!

✦ Science📘 Stage 5 · S5⏱ ~12 min🧒 Ages 9–10★ Free to start

name the variable I change and the ones I keep the same, and read a pattern from my data.

Start the free lesson →⬇ Printable PDF

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Kavi's Marble Lab

Kavi tips a bag of marbles 🔵 onto the bench. "Everything is made of tiny bits called particles — far too small to see," hoots Kavi. "So I'll model them with marbles! Packed tight and still = a solid 🧊. Rolling and sliding past each other = a liquid 💧. A few, far apart, zooming everywhere = a gas 💨." Then Kavi grins. "But a real scientist doesn't just watch — we run a fair test: change one thing, keep the rest the same, measure, and read the pattern in our data. Let's investigate!"

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What your child will learn

1Marbles model the particlesParticles are too tiny to see, so we model them with marbles. Tap each state to see how its particles behave.

2Change one thing — keep the rest the sameA fair test has two jobs. Tap each card.

3The Spreading-Colour RaceYou drop one drop of colour into icy, warm and hot water to see where it spreads fastest. Predict each one, then tap Next test →

4Our race results

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A peek inside

I want to find out if warmer water makes sugar dissolve faster. What is the ONE variable I should change?

The thing I am testing is the warmth, so the warmth is the variable I change. Everything else — the amount of water, the number of sugar cubes, the stirring — I keep the same.

Try this at home: In a fair test, how many things should you change at a time?

Ready to play and learn?

Start the free interactive lesson, or print the handout for screen-free play.

Start the free lesson →⬇ Download PDF

Part of Science · Stage 5 · S5 on KAVI Academy — a secular, whole-child learning platform for ages 5–12.