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Worksheet5th GradeLevel 2 · Standard

Free 5th Grade Solids, Liquids and Gases: The Particle Model Worksheet

Students use the idea that all matter is made of tiny particles to explain why solids keep their shape, liquids flow and take the shape of their container, and gases spread out and can be squashed — then test air and water in a syringe.

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Grade
5th Grade
Subject
Science
Topic
States of Matter & Materials
Difficulty
Level 2 · Standard
Estimated time
35 minutes
Curriculum
Texas grade levels (TEKS)
Questions
15
Answers
Included, with working
Format
PDF (A4), print or complete online

Students will practice

  • describing the properties of solids, liquids and gases
  • using a particle model to explain properties
  • explaining melting and evaporating with particles
  • correcting common misconceptions
  • making and explaining observations

Curriculum: Texas grade levels (TEKS). We show specific outcome codes only where they have been verified against the official curriculum document.

What's next?

Completed: Solids, Liquids and Gases: The Particle Model

  1. 1Dissolving: Soluble and Insoluble Substances

How to use this worksheet

  1. Print the PDF or complete it on screen. Write the student's name and date at the top.
  2. Read the instructions for each part together before starting. Encourage working to be shown.
  3. Mark with the answer sheet. Use the model answers and success criteria as a guide rather than a single right answer.
  4. Record the score, celebrate what went well, then follow the "What's next" suggestion.

Common questions

Who is this worksheet for?

5th Grade students (typically ages 10–11) working on states of matter & materials. It is pitched at level 2 · standard.

Are the answers included?

Yes. The PDF includes a full answer sheet with model answers and success criteria where there is more than one good answer. You can also view the answers online.

How long does it take?

About 35 minutes for 15 questions. Short, regular sessions work best: two or three a week beats one long one.

Do I need to sign up to download?

No. Click Download Free PDF and it opens immediately. It is free for personal, classroom and homeschool use.

What should we do next?

Try Dissolving: Soluble and Insoluble Substances.

Preview

Success TutoringWorksheets5th Grade · Science · States of Matter & Materials

Solids, Liquids and Gases: The Particle Model

Name

Date

Score /

Use the words particles, vibrate, slide, spread out and compressed in your answers.

Part A: Thinking with particles

Read the passage. Then circle the best answer.

All matter is made of particles far too small to see, even with a normal microscope. How the particles are arranged and how they move explains how solids, liquids and gases behave.

Solids: particles are packed tightly in a regular pattern and only vibrate in place. Solids keep their own shape and volume.

Liquids: particles are still close together but can slide past each other. Liquids flow, take the shape of their container and keep the same volume.

Gases: particles are far apart and move quickly in all directions. Gases spread out to fill any container and can be squashed (compressed).

Heating gives particles more energy, so they move faster. That is why heating can melt a solid or evaporate a liquid. The particles themselves do not grow bigger — they just move more and spread further apart.

1.In a solid, the particles…
  1. Aare far apart and move fast
  2. Bare packed tightly and vibrate in place
  3. Cslide past each other
  4. Ddo not move at all
2.Why does a liquid take the shape of its container?
  1. AIts particles are far apart.
  2. BIts particles are fixed in place.
  3. CIts particles can slide past each other.
  4. DIts particles get bigger.
3.Which state of matter can be squashed into a smaller space easily?
  1. Asolid
  2. Bliquid
  3. Cgas
  4. Dnone of them
4.When ice is heated and melts, its particles…
  1. Again energy and start to move past each other
  2. Bget bigger
  3. Cdisappear
  4. Dstop moving
5.A smell spreads across a room. This is because gas particles…
  1. Aare heavy and sink
  2. Bstay in one place
  3. Care packed tightly together
  4. Dmove quickly in all directions and spread out

Part B: Explaining properties

6.Match each state to how its particles behave.
  • solid
  • liquid
  • gas
  • packed tightly, vibrate in place
  • far apart, move fast in all directions
  • close together, slide past each other
7.Changing from a liquid to a gas is called (answer space).
8.Why does a block of wood keep its shape, but juice does not? (answer space)

Part C: True or false?

Write True or False.

9.When a metal rod is heated, its particles get bigger. ☐ True   ☐ False
10.Liquids keep the same volume when poured into a different container. ☐ True   ☐ False
11.Particles in a solid are completely still. ☐ True   ☐ False
12.Air is made of particles. ☐ True   ☐ False
Free worksheets at worksheets.successtutoring.com · © Success Tutoring · Free for personal and classroom use

Preview — the PDF contains the full resource and answer sheet.

States of Matter & Materials in other year levels

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About this resource

Created by
Success Tutoring Science Team
Last reviewed
1 October 2026
How it was made
Written by our team

Free to print and share for personal, classroom and homeschool use. Please don't resell. Spotted an error? Let us know.