Chapter 18

Splatoon's States of Matter

Lesson Overview

Title: Splatoon State of Matter: Inking Our Way Through Science!
Subject: Science
Age Group(s): 5th Grade
Tags: Matter, Properties of Matter, States of Matter, Chemical Change, Splatoon, Game-Based Learning, 5th Grade Science

Description:
This lesson uses gameplay from Splatoon 3 to create a dynamic model for exploring the properties of matter. Students will observe different substances (like ink, water, and solid structures) and their interactions to develop models of matter, identify materials based on their properties, and analyze what happens when substances are mixed.

Lesson Plan

Standards Aligned

  • 5-PS1-1. Develop a model to describe that matter is made of particles too small to be seen.
  • 5-PS1-3. Make observations and measurements to identify materials based on their properties.
  • 5-PS1-4. Conduct an investigation to determine whether the mixing of two or more substances results in new substances.

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to:

  • Develop a conceptual model of ink spreading to argue that liquids are made of particles too small to be seen.
  • Identify and compare the observable properties of at least three different substances shown in the game (e.g., player ink, enemy ink, water, solid ground).
  • Analyze the results of mixing substances in the game (e.g., ink on enemies, Golden Eggs in a cannon) to determine if a change occurred and describe the outcome.

Notes

  • This lesson is designed as an engaging application activity after students have been introduced to the basic concepts of solids, liquids, and properties of matter.
  • The video provides a novel context to reinforce these ideas.
  • The teacher should guide the discussion, helping students connect the abstract game mechanics to real-world scientific principles.

Materials Needed

  • Video of the Splatoon 3 gameplay
  • Projector, Smartboard, or other large display
  • Student science notebooks or a custom handout for observations
  • Chart paper or whiteboard for collaborative brainstorming
  • Exit ticket slips for summative assessment

Lesson Duration

Total Time: 45 minutes

Phase Duration Activity
Introduction 5 mins Briefly review solids, liquids, and properties of matter. Introduce the "investigation" using the game video.
Guided Observation 10 mins Play the video clip. Encourage students to jot down observations of different "substances" and what happens when they interact. Replay key moments as needed.
Group Discussion & Analysis 15 mins As a class or in small groups, discuss the observations guided by the key teaching points.
Individual Reflection 10 mins Students complete the exit ticket assessment.
Wrap-up 5 mins Review exit ticket answers and summarize how the game modeled scientific concepts.

Teaching Methods

  • Gamification: Using a popular video game to frame scientific inquiry.
  • Inquiry-Based Learning: Students observe phenomena and are guided to ask questions and draw conclusions.
  • Collaborative Learning: Class and small group discussions encourage students to build on each other's ideas.
  • Direct Instruction: Used briefly to introduce or review key vocabulary and concepts.

Assessment Methods

Formative (Observation): Teacher observation of student participation in discussions and the quality of their notes and observations.

Summative (Exit Ticket): Students respond to two prompts: (1) Name two different substances from the video and describe one property of each. (2) Describe what happened when the player fired a Golden Egg at the giant fish monster — was this a change?

Lesson Content

I. Key Teaching Points

  • Point 1: Matter, like the ink in the game, is composed of countless tiny particles that allow it to flow, spread, and cover surfaces.
  • Point 2: Different materials can be identified and distinguished by their unique, observable properties, such as color, state (solid/liquid), and how they interact with the environment.
  • Point 3: Mixing substances — like shooting ink at an enemy or firing a Golden Egg from a cannon — can cause a significant change and result in a new outcome.

II. Practical Examples

For Teaching Point 1:
In the video, the player's character shoots orange ink that spreads across solid ground. This can be used as a model to explain that the liquid ink is not one single entity but is made of countless tiny particles flowing together. When the King Salmonid, Horrorboros, is finally defeated at 0:24, it explodes into a spray of ink, visually representing matter breaking down into smaller components.

For Teaching Point 2:
The video clearly distinguishes between several substances based on their properties:

  • Player Ink (Orange Liquid): Allows the player to move quickly.
  • Enemy Ink (Green Liquid): Slows the player down and causes damage.
  • Water (Clear Liquid): Surrounds the stage and is hazardous to the player characters, showing it has different properties from ink.
  • Solid Structures (Metal Grates/Platforms): Have a fixed shape and hardness; ink can cover them but not change their form.

For Teaching Point 3:
The core objective of the fight is to create changes by mixing substances. The players collect Golden Eggs from smaller bosses and load them into their cannon. When they fire the egg at the Horrorboros's weak point (the bomb in its mouth), it causes a massive explosion and deals significant damage (seen from 0:07–0:13 and 0:17–0:21). This demonstrates that combining "ingredients" can produce a powerful reaction with a new result. Similarly, when the player is splatted by a "Flipper-Flopper" at 0:28, the mixing of enemy ink with the player's character results in a change — the player is defeated.

End of Lesson