Lesson plan

Topic

Physical Properties of Matter

Objectives

Understand the definition of physical properties of matter.
Identify different physical properties of various materials.
Classify materials based on their physical properties.

Materials

Printable cards for the activity (included in the lesson plan)
Whiteboard and markers
Samples of different materials (e.g., metal, plastic, wood, water)
Magnifying glasses (if available)
Chart paper for group activities

Grade/Age Group

Year/Grade 4

Subject

Science

Class Size

20 students

Lesson Duration

30 minutes

National Curriculum Alignment

This lesson corresponds to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) for Grade 4, emphasizing the nature of matter, its properties, and classification.

Lesson Structure

Step Number	Step Title	Length	Details
1	Introduction	5 mins	Briefly explain what matter is and discuss physical properties with examples.
2	Distribution of Printable Cards	5 mins	Hand out printable cards to each student. Explain their purpose and what information they need to fill out.
3	Materials Exploration	10 mins	Divide students into small groups. Provide different materials to explore and ask them to observe and fill out their cards with the physical properties they notice. Offer magnifying glasses for closer inspection.
4	Class Discussions	5 mins	Regroup and discuss observations. Ask guiding questions to facilitate sharing while ensuring students do not present individually.
5	Collection of Cards	3 mins	Collect the filled-in cards from the students for informal assessment. Alternatively, conduct a quick random check of selected cards.
6	Conclusion	2 mins	Summarize key points of the lesson and reinforce the importance of understanding physical properties in everyday life. Assign homework.

Homework

Assign students to observe three different objects at home and note down their physical properties to bring to the next class. The homework will be collected and reviewed without student presentation.

Additional Notes

Ensure that all discussions are inclusive and encourage participation from all students.
Monitor group activities to ensure that all students are engaged and understand the task.
Provide assistance with vocabulary if needed, especially for students who may struggle with scientific terminology.

Lesson script

Introduction

"Good morning, class! Today, we’re going to explore a fascinating topic in science: the physical properties of matter. Can anyone tell me what matter is? [Pause for responses] That's right! Matter is anything that has mass and takes up space.

Now, what do we mean by physical properties? Physical properties are characteristics that can be observed or measured without changing the substance. For example, color, shape, size, texture, and state—these are all physical properties of matter.

Today, we will dive into how we can observe these physical properties of different materials. Are you ready to discover more about the world around us? Let’s get started!"

Distribution of Printable Cards

"Alright, I need everyone to take one of these printable cards. [Distribute the cards]

Take a moment to look at your card. On it, you will find sections where you will write down the physical properties of the materials we will explore today. Make sure to fill it out accurately as we go through the lesson.

Does everyone have one? Great! Let’s move on to our next activity."

Materials Exploration

"I’m going to divide you into small groups now. Each group will receive different materials to explore. [Begin dividing students into groups]

Look at the items you have in your group. They might include metal, plastic, wood, and even water. Your task is to observe these materials carefully. Use the magnifying glasses if you want a closer look.

As you explore, fill out your cards with the physical properties you notice. Think about questions like: What color is it? How does it feel? Is it solid, liquid, or gas? Take your time and share your observations with your group.

You have 10 minutes for this exploration. Begin!"

Class Discussions

"Time's up, everyone! Let’s come back together and share what you discovered.

I want to hear about the materials you observed. Focus on discussing your findings as a group; there is no need for individual presentations.

What did you notice about the different properties of the materials? [Ask guiding questions] Did anyone notice a material that was heavier than others? Or perhaps one that was transparent?

Let’s ensure everyone has a chance to share, so try to build on each other’s observations. Who would like to start?"

Collection of Cards

"Thank you all for your wonderful sharing! Now, I would like you to hand in your filled-out cards to me. [Collect the cards]

This will help me understand what you learned today. If you're not finished, don't worry—I'll also do a quick random check of some cards to assess your understanding."

Conclusion

"To wrap up today’s lesson, let’s summarize what we’ve learned about the physical properties of matter.

We discovered that properties like color, texture, and state do not change the material itself. Understanding these properties helps us in our everyday lives, like knowing what materials to use for different purposes.

For homework, I want you to observe three different objects at home. Write down their physical properties on a piece of paper and bring it to our next class.

Thank you for your hard work today, class! You did a fantastic job. See you next time!"

Printables

| Question                                                                  | Answer |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|
| What is matter?                                                          |        |
| Can you give examples of physical properties?                             |        |
| How do physical properties differ from chemical properties?               |        |
| What materials did you explore during the group activity?                |        |
| What color was one of the materials you observed?                        |        |
| Was any material in your group heavier than the others?                  |        |
| How many states of matter can you name?                                  |        |
| What texture did one of the materials have?                              |        |
| Was there a transparent material in your group?                          |        |
| How can understanding physical properties help us in our daily lives?    |        |
| What will you observe for homework?                                      |        |
| Can you list the states of matter you learned about?                     |        |
| Did you use any tools during the materials exploration?                  |        |
| What is an example of a liquid you studied?                              |        |
| How can you compare the size of different objects?                       |        |

Full lesson	Create for a teacher a set of content for giving a lesson, beginning with the lesson plan. Each new block of materials must begin with an H1 heading (other subheaders must be H2, H3, etc). When you describe required pictures, write those descriptions in curly brackets, for example: {A picture of a triangle}
Which subject	Science
What topic	Physical properties of matter
What length (min)	30
What age group	Year or Grade 4
Class size	20
What curriculum
Include full script
Check previous homework
Ask some students to presents their homework
Add a physical break
Add group activities
Include homework
Show correct answers
Prepare slide templates
Number of slides	5
Create fill-in cards for students
Create creative backup tasks for unexpected moments