LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

What's the matter?

Students will categorize matter according to its properties.

A lesson plan for grade 1 Science

By Lisa Lawrence

Learn more

Related pages

  • Magnetic magic: Students will explore and experiment with a magnet's mysterious invisible strength by rotating through five hands-on centers.
  • Light, camera, action! Shadows?: This lesson will demonstrate how the position of a light source or direction of light and the time of the day will affect the shadow images that are depicted in our environment over a period of time.
  • An ad for an element: Students prepare an ad for an element, including properties and uses, in an attention getting format such as that used in the advertising business.

Related topics

Help

Please read our disclaimer for lesson plans.

Legal

This page copyright ©2008. Terms of use

Learning outcomes

The student will learn that matter has more than one property.

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

40 minutes

Materials/resources

  • paper
  • pencils
  • various old magazines
  • objects found in the classroom
  • construction paper
  • glue
  • science text if available

Pre-activities

Students should know that matter takes up space and has weight.

Activities

  1. Focus and Review: Matter is anything that has weight and takes up space.
  2. Introduce new lesson: Matter can be described by its properties. Shape, color, and size are three properties of matter.
  3. Teacher input: Students will read and discuss how matter can be described by its properties. You can tell about matter by talking about its size, color, and/or shape. Floating and sinking are other properties of matter. Show several different objects and discuss some of the properties they have. Categorize these objects (any objects that you may have handy in your classroom) by properties.
  4. Guided Practice: Divide students into four groups. Together, they should decide on a property of matter. Members of the group should search the classroom to find things that will fit in their property category; e.g., blue things, things that float, etc. They can present these in front of the class, and their classmates must try to guess what the property category is. All groups should have a turn to present their objects.
  5. Independent Practice: Give students a sheet of construction paper and have them fold it two times, forming three columns. They should label the top of each column with a property of matter. Pass out the old magazines while they are preparing this paper. Students can then cut out pictures that fit into each of the property categories.

Assessment

Students will present their findings, and teacher will review their projects to check for understanding and accuracy.

Supplemental information

Comments

This has been a successful lesson in my classroom.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Science (2005)

Grade 1

  • Goal 2: The learner will make observations and use student-made rules to build an understanding of solid earth materials.
    • Objective 2.01: Describe and sort a variety of earth materials based on their properties:
      • Color.
      • Hardness.
      • Shape.
      • Size.
  • Goal 3: The learner will make observations and conduct investigations to build an understanding of the properties and relationship of objects.
    • Objective 3.03: Classify solids according to their properties:
      • Color.
      • Texture.
      • Shape (ability to roll or stack).
      • Ability to float or sink in water.