Last updated: 1/7/2015

Grade 1 Science - Investigating Properties of Matter

Subject:

Math, Science & Technology

Grade:

1st Grade

Unit Title:

Grade 1 Science - Investigating Properties of Matter

Approx. Number of Weeks:

~ 10 Lessons

Unit Summary:

This unit is a bridge between the Kindergarten Senses unit and the 2nd Grade Interacting Matter unit. Students will understand and be able to classify objects using observable characteristics and describe or explain the characteristics used.

Next Generation Skills Addressed:

Collaboration & Communication	Creativity & Innovation	Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
Research & Information Fluency	Social & Emotional Intelligence

1. What will students know and be able to do?

Standards:

MST1.E.SI1 -	Scientific Inquiry: The central purpose of scientific inquiry is to develop explanations of natural phenomena in a continuing, creative process.

MST1.E.SI1.1 -	Students ask "why" questions in attempts to seek greater understanding concerning objects and events they have observed and heard about.

MST1.E.SI1.1a -	Observe and discuss objects and events and record observations

MST1.E.SI1.1b -	Articulate appropriate questions based on observations

MST1.E.SI1.3 -	Students develop relationships among observations to construct descriptions of objects and events and to form their own tentative explanations of what they have observed.

MST1.E.SI1.3a -	Clearly express a tentative explanation or description which can be tested

MST4 -	Students will understand and apply scientific concepts, principles, and theories pertaining to the physical setting and living environment and recognize the historical development of ideas in science.

MST4.E.PS3 -	Matter is made up of particles whose properties determine the observable characteristics of matter and its reactivity.

MST4.E.PS3.1b -	Matter has properties (color, hardness, odor, sound, taste, etc.) that can be observed through the senses.

MST4.E.PS3.1c -	Objects have properties that can be observed, described, and/or measured: length, width, volume, size, shape, mass or weight, temperature, texture, flexibility, reflectiveness of light.

MST4.E.PS3.1f -	Objects and/or materials can be sorted or classified according to their properties.

Essential Understandings:

Objects have properties that can be observed and described.

Properties can be used to classify objects.

Essential Questions:

How does studying the attributes/properties of objects help us to understand them, organize them and answer questions about them?

Students will know:

A property is a factual characteristic. (Opinion is not the same as an actual property, for example; pretty versus not pretty is not based on a property of matter.)

Objects/Materials can be sorted according to their properties.

Objects/Materials have more than one property.

The same set of objects may be sorted in more than one way.

Properties determine the observable characteristics of matter.

The properties of an object can be observed and described using the senses.

People classify objects to organize and manage.

Students will be able to:

Understand and define the word property.

Observe properties of objects such as size, shape, color, texture, composition and weight.

Identify and clearly describe the major observable properties of an object such as size, shape, color, texture, composition and weight.

Observe and clearly describe similarities and differences between objects based on their observable properties.

Sort and classify a set of objects based on a single property.

Sort and classify the same set of objects in more than one way based on certain properties such as size, color, shape, weight (light/heavy), texture, and composition (wood, metal, plastic).

2. How will we – and they – know?

Authentic Performance Task:

Preassessment:

Students will give examples of specific properties such as color, texture, size, shape, composition, etc.

Students will sort objects and then verbally identify and describe the property used to sort. Students will resort the same group of objects.

Formative Assessment:

Observation of students during class activities

Summative Assessment:

Students will give examples of specific properties such as color, texture, size, shape, composition, etc.

Students will sort objects and then verbally identify and describe the property used to sort the objects. Students will resort the same group of objects identifying and describing the properties used to sort.