Measuring Matter Lesson Plan: Matter and Its Interactions
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This lesson accompanies the BrainPOP topic Measuring Matter, and supports the standard of making observations and measurements to identify materials based on their properties. Students demonstrate understanding through a variety of projects.
Step 1: ACTIVATE PRIOR KNOWLEDGE
Display a tissue box. Ask students:
- What are some properties of this box?
- What are some different ways we might measure the box?
Step 2: BUILD KNOWLEDGE
- Read the description on the Measuring Matter topic page.
- Play the Movie, pausing to check for understanding.
- Have students read one of the following Related Reading articles: “Around the World,” or “The Final Frontier.” Partner them with someone who read a different article to share what they learned with each other.
Step 3: APPLY and ASSESS
Students take the Measuring Matter Challenge and Quiz, applying essential literacy skills while demonstrating what they learned about this topic.
Step 4: DEEPEN and EXTEND
Students express what they learned about measuring matter while practicing essential literacy skills with one or more of the following activities. Differentiate by assigning ones that meet individual student needs.
- Make-a-Movie: Create a tutorial explaining how to find the volume of different writing tools, like pencils and markers.
- Make-a-Map: Make a concept map comparing the masses, densities, and volumes of a hardcover book and a paperback book.
- Creative Coding: Code a game where players determine whether a unit of measurement describes an object’s volume, density, or mass.
More to Explore
Matter Sorter: Players determine falling objects’ states of matter in this sorting game.
States of Matter: Basics: Students explore states of matter as they heat, cool, and compress atoms and molecules in this interactive simulation.
Teacher Support Resources:
- Pause Point Overview: Video tutorial showing how Pause Points actively engage students to stop, think, and express ideas.
- Learning Activities Modifications: Strategies to meet ELL and other instructional and student needs.
- Learning Activities Support: Resources for best practices using BrainPOP.
