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What Are Physical Changes? — Reading Comprehension

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This engaging Grade 4-5 science passage introduces students to the concept of physical changes in matter, aligning with NGSS science standards. Learners will discover how matter can change its appearance, shape, or state—such as melting, freezing, or cutting—without becoming a different substance. The passage uses simple language, bolds and defines key vocabulary, and provides relatable real-world examples like melting ice or tearing paper. Activities include a multiple-choice quiz to check understanding and writing prompts to connect science with everyday life. Audio integration supports diverse learners. A glossary of important terms and a Spanish translation support bilingual classrooms and reinforce vocabulary. This resource is ideal for classroom instruction, homework, or independent study, helping students build a strong foundation in physical science concepts.

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children, play dough, to play, kindergarten, child knead, creativity, modeling clay, play dough, play dough, play dough, play dough, play dough — When you squeeze, roll, or flatten play dough, you're only changing its shape—a perfect example of a physical change. Image by elkimmelito / Pixabay.

A physical change is a change to matter that does not create a new substance. When a physical change happens, the material looks different, but it is still made of the same stuff. Understanding physical changes helps us see that matter can change its shape, size, or state without becoming something completely new.

Think about what happens when you cut a piece of paper. The paper changes from one large piece into many smaller pieces. It looks different, but each small piece is still paper. Nothing new was created. This is a physical change. The same is true when you fold a piece of clay. You can shape it into a ball, a snake, or a flat pancake. The clay changes shape, but it is still clay.

Another common physical change involves states of matter. States of matter are the forms that matter can take, such as solid, liquid, or gas. When ice melts, it changes from a solid to a liquid. The ice looks very different as water, but it is still the same substance. Both ice and water are made of the same tiny particles. The particles just move differently in each state. When water freezes back into ice, that is also a physical change.

Some physical changes can be reversed, or undone. If you crumple a piece of paper, you can unfold it again. If you melt butter, you can put it in the refrigerator to make it solid again. Other physical changes cannot easily be reversed. Once you cut paper into tiny pieces, it is very hard to put it back together. Even though some physical changes are hard to reverse, the important idea is that no new substance is formed. A substance is a type of matter with specific properties.

Physical changes happen all around us every day. When you tear lettuce for a salad, sharpen a pencil, or watch snow melt in the spring, you are seeing physical changes. The size, shape, or state may change, but the material stays the same. Scientists use the idea of physical changes to understand how matter behaves and to tell the difference between changes that make new substances and changes that do not.

Interesting Fact: When you dissolve sugar in water, it seems to disappear, but it is still there! This is a physical change because the sugar can be recovered by evaporating the water.

What is a physical change?

A change that creates new substanceA change without new substanceA change that destroys matterA change only in color

Which is an example of physical change?

Burning wood into ashCutting paper into piecesRusting metalCooking an egg

What are states of matter?

Different colors of matterDifferent sizes of matterForms like solid, liquid, gasDifferent weights of matter

Why is melting ice a change?

Ice becomes different substanceIce and water are sameIce disappears completelyIce creates new particles

Which change can be easily reversed?

Cutting paper into tiny piecesCrumpling paper then unfolding itBurning woodBreaking glass

What stays same during physical change?

Only the colorOnly the shapeThe substance itselfThe temperature