Classify It: Exploring the Physical Properties of Matter

• Science
• 5th Grade

Classify It: Exploring the Physical Properties of Matter

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to understand the term 'classify' using the physical properties of matter.

Begin the lesson by stating the learning objective to the students. Let them know what they will be able to do by the end of the lesson.

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What do you already know about classifying matter based on its physical properties?

What does Classify mean?

To classify means to group objects or substances based on their similarities or differences.

Introduce the concept of classification to the students. Explain that it is a way of organizing things based on their similarities or differences.

What is the purpose of classifying?

1. To identify objects or substances based on similarities or differences
2. To measure objects or substances based on similarities or differences
3. To group objects or substances based on similarities or differences
4. To differentiate objects or substances based on similarities or differences

Physical Properties of Matter

Physical properties of matter are characteristics that can be observed or measured without changing the substance into something else.

Explain the concept of physical properties of matter to the students. Provide examples of physical properties such as color, shape, size, texture, and density.

Examples of Classifying

Examples of classification based on physical properties include sorting rocks by color, categorizing fruits by shape, and organizing books by size.

Give students concrete examples of classification based on physical properties. Encourage them to think of other examples from their everyday lives.

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Classifying Objects

In this activity, you will be given a set of objects and asked to classify them based on their physical properties: Mass, Magnetism, Solubility, Density, Conductivity, and States of Matter.

1. The next slide lists each object, and what it's made out of.
2. Spin the wheel to make an educated guess about each property of matter for each object to fill in the data table.

Engage students in a hands-on activity where they can practice classifying objects based on their physical properties. Provide a variety of objects with different physical properties for them to sort.

Labels	Mass	Magnetism	Solubility	Density	Conductivity	States of matter
Cork stopper- cork					E- T-
Lego-plastic					E- T-
Nail- iron					E- T-
Donut Ring- Rubber					E- T-
Dish Sponge- sponge					E- T-
Packaging- styrofoam					E- T-
Stick- wood					E- T-
Sugar Cube- sugar					E- T-

Real-Life Applications

Classifying objects based on physical properties is used in everyday life.  Can you think of some ways you classify in your own life?

Discuss real-life applications of classification based on physical properties. Talk about how it is used in different scientific fields and in practical situations.

Review and Conclusion

In this lesson, we learned about classifying matter using the physical properties of matter. We explored what classifying is,  the physical properties of matter, examples of classifying objects, and real-life applications.

Summarize the key points covered in the lesson. Reinforce the learning objective and ask students if they have any questions or need further clarification.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.