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 both TEKS and the NGSS curriculum, the science teaching 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 behavior 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 create the various substances and materials we see, breathe, feel and use every day.
- Plus Plan
Mass vs. Weight - Poster
A poster explaining the difference between mass and weight.
- Plus Plan
Properties of Materials Word Wall Vocabulary
Forty-eight properties of materials vocabulary cards.
- Plus Plan
Heavy and Light Hands-on Activity
A fun, hands-on activity for students to compare the weight of various objects
- Plus Plan
Shadow Types Worksheet
A worksheet to use when learning about the properties of materials.
- Plus Plan
Pure Substances and Mixtures Science PowerPoint
A 30 slide editable PowerPoint Template for teaching a chemistry unit on pure substances, mixtures and separating techniques.
- Plus Plan
States of Matter Poster
A poster showing the States of Matter.
- Plus Plan
Phase Changes of Matter Poster
A poster showing the phase changes of matter.
- Plus Plan
Pure Substances and Mixtures Teaching Resource Pack
A 17 page resource pack to use when teaching a chemistry unit on pure substances, mixtures and separating techniques.
- Plus Plan
Jack and the Beanstalk (Made Differently!) PowerPoint
A 16-slide teaching presentation to use when exploring the properties of materials.
- Plus Plan
States of Matter Word Wall Vocabulary
Thirty-three matter related vocabulary cards for a word wall.
- Plus Plan
Stretchy Scoot Relay
A whole class game to play when learning about the properties of materials.
- Free Plan
Material World Beanbag Toss Game
A fun game to play when learning about the properties of materials.
- Plus Plan
Describing Materials Template
A template to use when describing objects by touch and sight.
- Plus Plan
Pure Substances and Mixtures - Vocabulary Worksheet
A vocabulary matching task relating to pure substances and mixtures.
- Plus Plan
What are Pure Substances and Mixtures? – Posters
2 posters explaining pure substances and mixtures.
- Plus Plan
Techniques for Separating Mixtures - Worksheet
A matching task relating to separating mixtures techniques.
- Plus Plan
Physical and Chemical Properties of Substances - Sorting Task
A sorting task relating to physical and chemical properties of substances.
- Plus Plan
Pure Substances and Mixtures – Separation Techniques Posters
A set of 6 separation techniques posters.
- Plus Plan
Pure Substances and Mixtures - Teaching Resource Pack
A collection of teaching resources to use when teaching a chemistry unit on pure substances, mixtures and separating techniques.
- Plus Plan
Facts of the Matter
This Properties of Matter unit explores the concept that solids, liquids, and gases have different observable properties and behave in different ways.
- Plus Plan
Properties of Materials Unit Plan
This Matter and Energy unit investigates the observable properties of materials. Descriptive vocabulary is explored as well as the suitability of materials for different purposes.
- Plus Plan
Material World Unit Plan
This Chemical Sciences unit investigates natural and processed materials. Demonstrations and experimental procedures are explored with particular attention given to the scientific method.
- Plus Plan
Understanding States of Matter
An assessment task designed to assess students' knowledge and understanding of: solids, liquids, and gases; their properties; and their behavior.
- Plus Plan
Slime - Solid, Liquid, or Gas?
A 60-minute lesson in which students will recognize that not all substances can be easily classified on the basis of their observable properties.
- Plus Plan
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.
- Plus Plan
Going, Going, Gone!
A 60-minute lesson in which students will recognize that substances exist in different states depending on the temperature.
- Plus Plan
Changing States of Matter
A 60-minute lesson in which students will explore the way solids, liquids, and gases change in different situations.
- Plus Plan
Gases
A 60-minute lesson in which students will observe that gases have mass and take up space.
- Plus Plan
Liquids
A 60-minute lesson in which students will identify the observable characteristics of liquids and how they behave in different ways.
- Plus Plan
Solids
A 60-minute lesson in which students will identify the observable characteristics of solids and how they behave in different ways.
- Plus Plan
Matter Matters!
A 60-minute lesson designed to introduce students to key terms and concepts related to matter and states of matter.
- Plus Plan
What's the Matter?
A 60-minute lesson designed to activate students' prior knowledge of solids, liquids, and gases.