Introduction:

This activity is designed to help first grade students understand the physical properties of matter. The ideas in this lesson will help lay the foundation for exploration of concepts such as density and forces in the later elementary grades. This activity can be done in cooperation with the Librarian. A good introduction is to read the story: "What's the Matter in Mr. Whisker's Room?". Mr. Whiskers allows his eight students to spend the day exploring seven science centers around the classroom and on the playground. As the students experiment, they uncover "big ideas" about matter. For example, using water droppers allows them to figure out that matter takes up space, while playing with "gloop" points out that matter can be explored by using the senses.

Sink or Float  Literature connection: A donkey, a mouse a sheep and a pig wanted to go in a boat. Each one jumped in and one of them tipped the boat over and everyone got wet!

The Process:

I n this activity students will determine how heat affects solids and play a game of sink or float.  At this stage of the game they need be encouraged to observe how heat changes the state of matter, and that the same objects will sink or float every time, i.e., that there is consistency in the way the objects behave. This will help students devise their own ideas about physical properties and how they can be used to describe and categorize objects. 

This lesson lends itself to categorizing objects based on their ability to sink or float and how temperature can change a solid to a liquid.

The Task:

Students will go to: Solids and Liquids  and then Sink or Float and play these  games. After going through the games, students will access Kidspiration and go to 'Pictures'. Students will make a sink or float chart and pull out symbols from the library and place them in the correct category.

Objective:

Matter

1.3        The student will investigate and understand how different common materials interact with water. Key concepts include

• some substances will dissolve more readily in hot water than in cold water