Matter Teaching Resources
Teaching about matter in your science classes? Explore activities, experiments, worksheets and more teacher resources created to help you with your lesson plans and help primary students understand what matter is and what it's made from!
Aligned with the Australian Science curriculum — including version 9 — the resources in this collection offer everything you need to explain the changing states of matter and how it's classified, plus activities that help students better understand the makeup of different molecules.
Whether it's your first year teaching about matter or you just need a handy guide to save time on lesson planning, we've got you covered! Read on for a primer from our teacher team, including a way to explain what matter is to your science classes.
What Is Matter? A Kid-Friendly Definition
So what, exactly, is matter? Here's a helpful explanation from our teacher team that you can use with your class:
Matter can be defined as anything that has mass and occupies space. It's literally the stuff that makes up everything in the universe, including our bodies!
What Is Matter Made Up Of? How to Explain This to Kids
This may sound like a bit of an existential question, but bear with us! Learning what matter is made of can help our students to understand the different properties and behaviour of the various types of matter.
Let's break down all that matter is made of for kids:
- Atoms — All matter is made up of atoms. This is the word we use to describe tiny particles. They're so tiny the human eye can't even see them. Atoms are like the building blocks of matter.
- Molecules — When 2 or more atoms come together and form a bond, you get a molecule. The different combinations and arrangements of atoms and molecules creates the various substances and materials we see, breathe, feel and use every day.
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Properties of Matter Graphic Organiser Pack
Use printable graphic organizers to help your students record what they have learned about the different properties of matter.
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Describing Matter - Scavenger Hunt Activities
Host an engaging science scavenger hunt to introduce your early years students to the observable properties of matter.
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Sink or Float? Worksheet (Cut and Paste)
Identify objects that sink and float with a printable Sink or Float Worksheet PDF.
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Observing Matter – Edible Science Experiment
Discover the observable properties of matter with an exciting edible science experiment!
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Describing Matter Interactive Game
Practise describing matter with an engaging science game for early years students.
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Separation Techniques – Separating Mixtures Posters
Identify common methods for separation of mixtures with our Separation Techniques Chemistry posters.
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States of Matter Word Find - Upper Years
Use a States of Matter word search to introduce your upper-years students to new academic vocabulary.
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Observing Matter - Foundation Year Science Game
Practise observing the properties of matter with an engaging science game for foundation year students.
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What Are Pure Substances and Mixtures? (Classroom Pack)
Explore pure substances and mixtures with a printable classroom pack that includes posters and comprehension worksheets.
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What State?
A 60-minute lesson in which students will establish that matter can be classified as solid, liquid or gas.
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What's the Matter?
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Adding Heat
A 60-minute lesson in which students will investigate what happens when heat is applied to a range of solids.
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The Three States of Matter
A 60-minute lesson in which students will explore the properties of solids, liquids and gases.
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Slime - Solid, Liquid or Gas?
A 60 minute lesson in which students will recognise that not all substances can be easily classified on the basis of their observable properties.
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Understanding States of Matter
An assessment task designed to assess students' knowledge and understanding of solids, liquids and gases, their properties and their behaviour.
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Solids
A 60 minute lesson in which students will identify the observable characteristics of solids and how they behave in different ways.
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Matter Matters!
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Diving Into Description
A 60 minute lesson in which students explore the properties of materials and develop vocabulary to describe them.
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Changing States
A 60-minute lesson in which students will observe how a change of state between solid and liquid can be caused by adding or removing heat.
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Making Monsters
A 60 minute lesson in which students design and create a 3D monster using objects made from materials with different properties.
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Facts of the Matter
This Chemical Sciences unit explores the concept that solids, liquids and gases have different observable properties and behave in different ways.
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Changing States Unit Plan
This Chemical Sciences unit addresses how changes in state from solid to liquid and liquid to solid can be caused by adding or removing heat.
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Knowing Matters!
A 60 minute lesson in which students will explore how knowledge of states of matter and their changes can help inform practices and decision making.
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Going, Going, Gone!
A 60 minute lesson in which students will recognise that substances exist in different states depending on the temperature.
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Changing States of Matter
A 60 minute lesson in which students will explore the way solids, liquids and gases change in different situations.
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Gases
A 60 minute lesson in which students will observe that gases have mass and take up space.
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Liquids
A 60 minute lesson in which students will identify the observable characteristics of liquids and how they behave in different ways.
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Let's Sort!
A 60 minute lesson in which students identify the material objects are made of and sort them in various ways.
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Changing States – Assessment
An assessment task in which students will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of how adding and removing heat can cause solids and liquids to change states.
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Recycling Case Study – Soft Plastics
A 60-minute lesson in which students will explore how changes from solid to liquid and liquid to solid can help in the process of recycling plastic.
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Observing Matter Changes
A 60-minute lesson in which students will investigate what happens when heat is added or removed from a substance.
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Changing States of Matter Video – How Long Will It Take to Melt?
Watch this fun changing states of matter science experiment video with your Year 3 class, and skip the melty classroom mess!