Matter

Natural sciences

Grade 4

Matter, substances and materials

Module 50

Matter

Activity:

To discover the properties and experience the wonder of matter

[lo 1.1.2, 2.2.1]

Let’s play the game:

I spy with my little eye…..

and then describe the thing that you see by answering the following:

How does it feel? (hard, soft, etc.)

Can one eat or drink it?

Can one play with it?

The one who guesses the answer correctly gets a point. If after five guesses your partners cannot guess what it is, you get a point.

What is matter?

Everything you can touch is matter .

Matter has mass

Pick up your ruler. What does it feel like?

Pick up your partner. How does that feel? Which one was more difficult to pick up?

My finding is that:

Matter occupies space

Try the following:

Take a glass of water.

Put flowers in the water. What happens to the water?

Why do you think it happened?

My finding is that:

From old newspapers cut out all the pictures on the first ten pages. The pictures should be of living and non-living matter. Make two piles of pictures, one for living matter and one for non-living matter. First list the properties of living matter before you begin cutting out.

Assessment

LEARNING OUTCOME 1: SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATIONS

The learner will be able to act confidently on curiosity about natural phenomena, and to investigate relationships and solve problems in scientific, technological and environmental contexts.

Assessment Standard

We know this when the learner

• plans investigations:

1.1.2 talks about personal experiences, highlighting aspects which relate to science or technology.

LEARNING OUTCOME 2: CONSTRUCTING SCIENCE KNOWLEDGE The learner will know and be able to interpret and apply scientific, technological and environmental knowledge.

Assessment Standard

We know this when the learner

categorises information: sorts objects and organisms by a visible property:

• follows instructions to sort animals in groups of those with two legs, with four legs, and with more than four legs.

Memorandum

Try the following (1)

• Pick up your ruler. What does it feel like? Pick up your partner. Which one was more difficult to pick up?
• Answer:
• The ruler is lighter than the partner but both have mass.

Try the following (2)

• Take a vase containing water. Put in a bunch of flowers. What happens to the water? Why does this happen?
• Answer:
• The water rises in the vase. The flower and the water are both matter. Both occupy space.

PROPERTIES OF LIVING MATTER

List the properties that living matter must have before you begin cutting out.

1. Movement: It must be able to move.
2. Respiration: It must be able to breathe.
3. Procreation: It must be able to breed.
4. Ingest food: It must be able to consume food.
5. Excretion: It must be able to excrete undesirable substances such as sweat.