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Matter

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Saved by Bill
on September 20, 2013 at 6:46:19 am

Matter

In the sixth grade, students begin to study the characteristics of matter. While they are not asked to understand the role that subatomic particles like protons, neutrons and electrons play in the structure of matter, they are asked to understand that all matter is made up of atoms -- which are extremely small particles that are too small to be seen with eyes and/or microscopes.

They are also expected to understand that atoms form the 100+ elements that combine in different ways to make all living and non-living things in the universe. Finally, they are expected to understand that atoms are constantly moving -- and when they are heated or cooled, the speed of those molecules changes. This change in speed results in phase changes -- moves from solids to liquids and liquids to gasses.

I Can Statements

Matter_ICan_Statements.doc

This document includes a list of the objectives that students will be expected to master in their study of matter. It can be used as a checklist by teachers to guide their instruction and as a tracking sheet for parents and students to monitor progress towards mastery.

Key Vocabulary List

Handout_MatterVocabularyNotes.docx

Handout_MatterVocabularyReview.docx

Handout_VocabularyOrganization_Matter.doc

These handouts can be used by students to practice the content-specific vocabulary for our Matter unit.

Vocabulary Quick Checks

Quiz_MatterVocab.docx

Quiz_MatterVocab - Version C.docx

Quiz_MatterVocab - Version E.docx

These handouts include quick vocabulary tests that can be given to students to assess their understanding of the key terms in our unit on Matter. Version C and E have been modified for special programs students.

Common Assessments

Primary Common Assessment

Handout_MatterCommonAssessment.doc

Handout_MatterCommonAssessment_DIFFERENTIATED.doc

This common assessment -- which contains 10 multiple choice questions about elements and concepts like phase changes and solubility -- was developed in the summer of 2012. It is the current assessment that teachers are required to give their students and should guide the instructional choices that teachers make.

Additional Assessment

Matter Quiz.docx

Handout_MatterQuizKEY.doc

Handout_MatterQuiz - Version C.docx

Handout_MatterUnitRetest.docx

This common assessment -- contains the same 10 multiple choice questions as the ones above, but also includes questions related to solubility and the effect heat has on the states of matter. The C version has been modified by the special programs department to use with students who have modified testing as an IEP requirement.

The retest is a sorting activity that focuses on the characteristics of the states of matter. While it doesn't cover all of the content on our original assessment, it does cover the key content and it is easy to grade. Bill tends to use it to raise the scores of failing students up to an 80 after the first test.

Matter Study Guide

Handout_MatterStudyGuide.docx

This handout contains a simple study guide -- created by Kate Kotik -- that students can use to study for their matter common assessment. It also includes an activity that asks students to create and interpret a graph -- a lab skill that Kate focused on during the course of her work with the matter unit.

Matter Study Guide.docx

A modified version of the above study guide...condensed some pages, enlarged graph area, additional questions.

Solubility Materials

Solubility Project

Handout_SolubilityProject.docx

Handout_SolubilityProjectGradingRubric.docx

These handouts include materials for an inquiry based solubility lab that Kate Kotik used with her students. It asks students to develop and test their own wonder questions about why materials dissolve.

Solubility Activities

http://www.inquiryinaction.org/classroomactivities/topic.php?topic=Solubility

This collection of activities -- spotted by Kate Kotik on the American Chemical Society's website -- are fantastic starting points for the study of solubility. They ask students to conduct quick mini-experiments with M+M candies, specifically looking at how the candy shell is dissolved when in water. All of the activities can be completed with limited supplies and all come with detailed handouts that introduce solubility concepts in an approachable way.

Solubility Notes and Handouts

Handout_SolubilityWorksheet.pdf

Handout_SolubilityStudentNotesheet.pdf

These handouts -- which Kate Kotik found useful when working with her students -- introduce the definitions of important words connected to solubility.

Mass and Volume Materials

Mass and Volume Lab

Handout_MassVolumeLab.docx

This activity -- which was developed by Jason Dapkevich -- can be used to introduce students to (1). the difference between mass and volume and (2). the proper use of graduated cylinders and triple beam balances.

Mass and Volume Lab #2

Handout_MassVolumeLab.doc

This activity -- which was developed by Kate Kotik -- can be used to introduce students to the notion that mass and volume are two characteristics of matter that change based on the amount of matter present.

Play-Doh Density Lab

Handout_PlayDohDensityLab.docx

This activity -- which was developed by Kate Kotik -- can be used to introduce students to the notion that the density of an object can be determined by first figuring out its mass and volume and then using the formula D=M/V. It is also designed to give students the chance to determine whether or not density is a property that is affected by the amount of matter present.

General Matter Materials

What's In Project

Handout_WhatsInProject.doc

This activity -- which was developed by Kate Kotik -- asks students to study the elements that are in common, every-day household objects and then to compare those findings to the elements that are common in the human body. The purpose of the activity is to introduce students to the concept that elements in combination make up everything in the universe.

While the activity asks students to bring in packaging from a common household product, this website can be used by students who forget to bring in a package to find ingredient lists for common household products, too.

This file -- created by Bill Ferriter -- introduces kids to the composition of both the human body and earth's atmosphere. It can be used as a comparison for students completing the What's In Project.

And this file -- created by Bill Ferriter -- is a revised version of a final product that doesn't require students to make a final poster, but does require them to make comparisons between the elements in their products and the elements in the human body/earth's atmosphere. Bill designed it simply as a time-saver.

Boiling Point Demonstration

Boiling Point Demonstration.doc

This activity -- which was developed by Kate Kotik -- asks students to consider whether or not the boiling point of water is affected by the amount of water in a container. It can be used as either a mini-lab or as a classroom demonstration.

Boiling/Melting Point Interactive Graphic

http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/hotplate/

This interactive graphic from Harcourt can be used to introduce students to the idea that temperatures don't rise above the boiling point. It is also useful for introducing students to the idea that temperatures will plateau at the melting point until all of a substance melts before rising again to the boiling point.

Ice Cream Lab

Handout_IceCreamLab.doc

This activity -- which was developed by Kate Kotik -- is designed to introduce students to the notion that substances can change states. In it, students make ice cream and observe the transition that milk undergoes from a liquid to a solid.

Additional Resources

Density Overview

http://www.visionlearning.com/library/module_viewer.php?mid=37

This weblink provides a nice overview of what density is and where the concept of measuring density comes from. It can be used as a resource for students, parents and/or teachers who are interested in brushing up on their knowledge of density as a physical property of matter.