Activity 1
Give each student two sticky notes. Prior to the lesson write “Matter, Matter Everywhere!” on the chart paper. Tell students, “Look around the room and write the names of two different things that you can see, feel, smell, hear, or taste on the two sticky notes I have given you (one word on each note).” Have students place the sticky notes on the chart paper. Note: Keep this chart paper as it will be revisited in Lesson 3.
Read the sticky notes and explain that everything students have named is matter, and that matter is all around them. Say, “Matter is anything that takes up space and has mass.” Explain that matter can be alive, dead, or never living at all. Have students turn to a partner and give an example of each of those three types of matter. Say, “Are human beings made of matter? Yes, we are. We take up space and have mass.” Review the sticky notes and make sure all students agree that the objects listed are examples of matter.
Give each student a copy of Matter, Matter Everywhere (S-3-6-1_Matter, Matter Everywhere.docx). Tell students they are to classify each example of matter written on the sticky notes. When students complete the worksheets, collect them, and discuss the chart with the class.
Have students record their definition of matter in their science journals.
Place students in groups. Give each group three small jars of various sizes and a bag of marbles. Tell each group that they will fill one jar with marbles and count the number of marbles it takes to fill the jar. They are to record the number of marbles it takes to fill each jar on the Fill the Jar worksheet (S-3-6-1_Fill the Jar.docx).
Discuss with students what they found out when they filled the jars. Explain that the marbles took up space in the jar.
Activity 2
Show students a balance scale. Ask them what they would do with this. They might use the word weight. Explain to students that mass and weight are different. Mass is a measurement of how much matter is in an object; weight is a measurement of how hard gravity is pulling on that object. Your mass is the same wherever you are—on Earth, on the Moon, floating in space—because the amount of stuff you’re made of doesn’t change. But your weight depends on how much gravity is acting on you at the moment; you’d weigh less on the Moon than on Earth, and in interstellar space you’d weigh almost nothing at all.
Divide students into groups again and give each a bag of marbles. Tell each group they will be finding the mass of marbles. Demonstrate how students are to place one marble on one side of the pan balance and then place paper clips on the other pan until there is a balance. They will then find the mass of other marbles and record their findings on the Massing Marbles worksheet (S-3-6-1_Massing Marbles.docx).
Say: “The weight of an object is dependent on the pull of gravity. An object’s weight on Earth would be different than its weight on the Moon due to the difference in gravity.”
Summarize the lesson by having each student write a paragraph answering the question, “What is matter?” Ask students to include at least three examples of matter in their paragraphs. Have them share what they wrote with a partner, and then draw two or three students’ names from a cup to read their paragraphs to the class.
Allow other students to ask questions or make comments about what was shared. Collect the paragraphs to check for understanding of the concept of matter. Have students record the definitions of mass and weight in their science journals.
Extension:
- Students who might need an opportunity for additional learning can cut out pictures of matter from magazines to create a “matter collage.” The collage can be displayed in the classroom.
- Students who may be going beyond the standards can select books on matter from the school library to bring back to the classroom. After reading one or more of the books, students can make posters summarizing the information on matter. The posters can be displayed in the classroom.
- Students who may be going beyond the standards can look for items for which to measure mass. Examples of materials could be erasers, books, and pencils. Remind students that a balance scale is a tool to measure mass.
