Learning Resource Type

Classroom Resource

Matter's Physical Properties: Interactive Lesson | UNC-TV Science

Subject Area

Science

Grade(s)

5, 8

Overview

What are the “physical properties” of matter, and how can they be measured and observed? Students will learn about some basic characteristics of matter—including those that depend on the amount of a substance and those that don’t—with this interactive lesson.

    Science (2015) Grade(s): 5

    SC15.5.3

    Examine matter through observations and measurements to identify materials (e.g., powders, metals, minerals, liquids) based on their properties (e.g., color, hardness, reflectivity, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, response to magnetic forces, solubility, density).

    Unpacked Content

    UP:SC15.5.3

    Vocabulary

    • color
    • hardness
    • reflectivity
    • electrical conductivity
    • thermal conductivity
    • response to magnetic forces
    • solubility
    • density
    • measurement (quantitative and qualitative)
    • data
    • observable properties
    • standard units
    • conductors
    • nonconductors
    • magnetic
    • nonmagnetic

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • Materials have different properties-color, hardness, reflectivity, electrical conductivity thermal conductivity, solubility, and density.
    • Measurements of a variety of properties can be used to identify materials.
    • Measurements should be made in standard units (e.g., grams & liters).

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • Identify the phenomenon through observations about materials, including color, hardness, reflectivity, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, response to magnetic forces, and solubility.
    • Identify the evidence and collect data about the observed objects in standard units (e.g., grams, liters).
    • Collaboratively plan the investigation.
    • Identify materials based on their properties.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
    • Standard units are used to measure and describe physical quantities of materials such as weight, time, temperature, and volume. These measurements will assist in the identification of the materials ( e.g. powders, metals, minerals, and liquids).

    Scientific and Engineering Practices

    Planning and Carrying out Investigations

    Crosscutting Concepts

    Scale, Proportion, and Quantity
    Science (2015) Grade(s): 8

    SC15.8.5

    Observe and analyze characteristic properties of substances (e.g., odor, density, solubility, flammability, melting point, boiling point) before and after the substances combine to determine if a chemical reaction has occurred.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:SC15.8.5

    Vocabulary

    • Characteristic properties (e.g., odor, density, solubility, flammability, melting point, boiling point)
    • Substances
    • Chemical reaction

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • Each pure substance has characteristic physical and chemical properties that can be used to identify it.
    • Characteristic properties of substances may include odor, density, solubility, flammability, melting point, and boiling point.
    • Chemical reactions change characteristic properties of substances.
    • Substances react chemically in characteristic ways.
    • In a chemical process, the atoms that make up the original substances are regrouped into different molecules, and these new substances have different properties from those of the reactants.

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • Observe characteristic physical and chemical properties of pure substances before and after they interact.
    • Analyze characteristic physical and chemical properties of pure substances before and after they interact.
    • Analyze the properties to identify patterns (i.e., similarities and differences), including the changes in physical and chemical properties of each substance before and after the interaction.
    • Use the analysis to determine whether a chemical reaction has occurred.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
    • Observations and analyses can be used to determine whether a chemical reaction has occurred.
    • The change in properties of substances is related to the rearrangement of atoms in the reactants and products in a chemical reaction (e.g., when a reaction has occurred, atoms from the substances present before the interaction must have been rearranged into new configurations, resulting in the properties of new substances).

    Scientific and Engineering Practices

    Analyzing and Interpreting Data

    Crosscutting Concepts

    Patterns
    Link to Resource

    CR Resource Type

    Interactive/Game

    Resource Provider

    PBS
    Accessibility
    License

    License Type

    Custom
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