What's the Matter
Fourth grade students are exploring matter and its relationship to the Water Cycle. Students are learning the role molecules play in forming solids, liquids, and gases. Heat is the primary source of energy that fuels the Water Cycle. Our meteorologists are making connections between the sun's heat energy and its impact on the water cycle. Matter can be measured using different tools including a pan balance, graduated cylinder, beaker, thermometer, and ruler.
What You Can Do at Home
Activities
Changing States Activity- Parental Supervision is necessary for this activity.
Place a mothball in a mason jar and seal the lid. Place the jar in a small pan of water and warm water. Keep the temperature of the water heated by adding warm water. Watch carefully how the heat affects the mothball. Take the jar out of the pan. Where is the mothball? Check the sides of the jar in one hour. What happened? Check the sides of the jar in two hours? What happened? What would happen if you added more heat or less heat? Talk to your child about the states of matter the mothball went through. (Solid, liquid, gas, and then back into a solid again!) Ask your child to draw and write about his/her results in a journal. How does heat affect the mothball?
Websites
Scholastic Studyjams: Properties of Matter
Matter can take on many properties or characteristics. Watch this video to learn all about the different properties of matter.
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/matter/properties-of-matter.htm
Scholastic Studyjams: Tools of Measurement
Review some of the different tools used to measure matter.
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/math/measurement/tools-measurement.htm
Scholastic Studyjams: Physical and Chemical Changes
Watch this video to learn more about the differences between physical and chemical changes.
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/matter/changes-of-matter.htm
Scholastic Studyjams: The Water Cycle
This video demonstrates how water is repeatedly recycled through the water cycle.
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/weather-and-climate/water-cycle.htm
EPA Thirstin's Water Cycle
Click on this interactive site to review what you know about the Water Cycle.
http://www.epa.gov/ogwdw/kids/flash/flash_watercycle.html
Suggested Reading
Nature and Science of Sunlight by Jane Burton and Kim Taylor. Examines energy of the sun and its importance to life on earth.
Physics: Why Matter Matters! by Dan Green. Learn more about matter and the building blocks of the universe.
For a list of science nonfiction books, please click on the link titled Favorite Links and Books to Read. Click on the sublink Grades 3-5 Science Nonfiction Books, where you will find a detailed list of books related to many different topics in science.
Fourth grade students are exploring matter and its relationship to the Water Cycle. Students are learning the role molecules play in forming solids, liquids, and gases. Heat is the primary source of energy that fuels the Water Cycle. Our meteorologists are making connections between the sun's heat energy and its impact on the water cycle. Matter can be measured using different tools including a pan balance, graduated cylinder, beaker, thermometer, and ruler.
What You Can Do at Home
Activities
Changing States Activity- Parental Supervision is necessary for this activity.
Place a mothball in a mason jar and seal the lid. Place the jar in a small pan of water and warm water. Keep the temperature of the water heated by adding warm water. Watch carefully how the heat affects the mothball. Take the jar out of the pan. Where is the mothball? Check the sides of the jar in one hour. What happened? Check the sides of the jar in two hours? What happened? What would happen if you added more heat or less heat? Talk to your child about the states of matter the mothball went through. (Solid, liquid, gas, and then back into a solid again!) Ask your child to draw and write about his/her results in a journal. How does heat affect the mothball?
Websites
Scholastic Studyjams: Properties of Matter
Matter can take on many properties or characteristics. Watch this video to learn all about the different properties of matter.
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/matter/properties-of-matter.htm
Scholastic Studyjams: Tools of Measurement
Review some of the different tools used to measure matter.
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/math/measurement/tools-measurement.htm
Scholastic Studyjams: Physical and Chemical Changes
Watch this video to learn more about the differences between physical and chemical changes.
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/matter/changes-of-matter.htm
Scholastic Studyjams: The Water Cycle
This video demonstrates how water is repeatedly recycled through the water cycle.
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/weather-and-climate/water-cycle.htm
EPA Thirstin's Water Cycle
Click on this interactive site to review what you know about the Water Cycle.
http://www.epa.gov/ogwdw/kids/flash/flash_watercycle.html
Suggested Reading
Nature and Science of Sunlight by Jane Burton and Kim Taylor. Examines energy of the sun and its importance to life on earth.
Physics: Why Matter Matters! by Dan Green. Learn more about matter and the building blocks of the universe.
For a list of science nonfiction books, please click on the link titled Favorite Links and Books to Read. Click on the sublink Grades 3-5 Science Nonfiction Books, where you will find a detailed list of books related to many different topics in science.