Section 1
Matter Takes Up Space and Has Mass
Matter is anything with mass that occupies space. Properties like color, magnetism, and buoyancy describe matter. We measure mass with balances and volume with graduated cylinders or cubes.
In this Grade 4 lesson from Science: A Closer Look, Chapter 5, students learn to identify and describe physical properties of matter, including mass, volume, buoyancy, magnetism, and the ability to dissolve. The lesson also introduces the three states of matter — solid, liquid, and gas — using hands-on exploration with cornstarch and water to compare and contrast how matter can behave. Students practice measuring mass with a balance and volume with graduated cylinders while building foundational vocabulary for understanding the physical world.
Section 1
Matter Takes Up Space and Has Mass
Matter is anything with mass that occupies space. Properties like color, magnetism, and buoyancy describe matter. We measure mass with balances and volume with graduated cylinders or cubes.
Section 2
Particles Arrange Differently in Three States
Solids maintain definite shape with tightly packed particles. Liquids take container shapes with particles that slide past each other. Gases fill containers completely with particles that move freely.
Section 3
People Reuse and Recycle Everyday Materials
Matter can be reused for different purposes rather than thrown away. Materials like cans, paper, and plastic can be recycled into new products, reducing waste in landfills and oceans.
Section 4
Scientists Calculate Volume Through Multiplication
To find a rectangular solid's volume, multiply length × width × height. The result is measured in cubic units like cubic centimeters (cm³), representing how much space the object occupies.
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Section 1
Matter Takes Up Space and Has Mass
Matter is anything with mass that occupies space. Properties like color, magnetism, and buoyancy describe matter. We measure mass with balances and volume with graduated cylinders or cubes.
Section 2
Particles Arrange Differently in Three States
Solids maintain definite shape with tightly packed particles. Liquids take container shapes with particles that slide past each other. Gases fill containers completely with particles that move freely.
Section 3
People Reuse and Recycle Everyday Materials
Matter can be reused for different purposes rather than thrown away. Materials like cans, paper, and plastic can be recycled into new products, reducing waste in landfills and oceans.
Section 4
Scientists Calculate Volume Through Multiplication
To find a rectangular solid's volume, multiply length × width × height. The result is measured in cubic units like cubic centimeters (cm³), representing how much space the object occupies.
Book overview
Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.
Continue this chapter