Spark scientific thinking in your classroom with our National Science Week: What Will Melt the Fastest? Experiment! This simple yet highly engaging investigation invites students to make predictions, observe changes, and record their findings as they watch everyday items melt. It’s the perfect hands-on way to explore states of matter, the effects of heat, and fair testing principles.

Students will compare how quickly an ice cube, a piece of butter, and a piece of chocolate melt over time. With structured worksheets to guide the process, they’ll develop key inquiry skills as they predict, observe, and reflect on the results. This investigation makes science accessible and fun while encouraging curiosity about how different materials react to heat.

Ideal for Foundation to Year 2 learners, this activity provides a fantastic starting point for conversations about solids and liquids, temperature, and the properties of different materials. Whether you’re celebrating National Science Week or exploring states of matter as part of your science program, this experiment is a classroom favourite in the making!

Key Learning Outcomes:

• ✅ Predict and compare the melting rates of different materials
• ✅ Observe and describe physical changes caused by heat
• ✅ Record scientific findings using structured worksheets
• ✅ Reflect on predictions and outcomes using descriptive language
• ✅ Develop an understanding of material properties and melting points

What’s Included:

• Step-by-step student instructions for conducting the experiment
• Structured worksheets with sections for prediction, observation, and reflection
• Science vocabulary prompts to support language development
• Extension prompts for discussion and creative connections

Materials Needed:

• 3 plates or trays
• Small cube of ice
• Piece of butter (roughly the same size as the ice)
• Piece of chocolate (same size for fair testing)
• Timer or stopwatch
• Printed worksheets (1 per student)

How to Use:

1. Introduce the concept of melting and ask students to predict which item will melt the fastest.
2. Place each item on a separate plate and ensure they are similar in size and conditions.
3. Start the timer and observe each item over 5–10 minutes.
4. Students complete their worksheets, noting any changes in appearance or texture.
5. Wrap up with a class discussion about which item melted the fastest and why.

Ideas for Classroom Use:

• 💡 Use as part of a science rotation during National Science Week
• 💡 Pair with a writing activity where students describe the “melting race”
• 💡 Include in a science journal to track temperature-related investigations
• 💡 Extend learning by testing different materials or environmental conditions
• 💡 Turn results into a class bar graph or data chart

Top Teacher Tips:

• 💛 Conduct the experiment in a warm, sunny spot for faster and clearer results
• 💛 Encourage precise observation with descriptive words like “soft,” “liquid,” and “unchanged”
• 💛 Reinforce fair testing by discussing why size, surface, and position matter
• 💛 Use visuals or real objects to introduce the concept of melting before starting

Our What Will Melt the Fastest? Experiment is a hands-on, meaningful way to explore how heat affects materials. With prediction, observation, and reflection at its core, it’s a valuable addition to your National Science Week celebrations or any classroom STEM inquiry.

Be sure to check out our other National Science Week resources!