Big Idea 9 : Changes in Matter



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A. Matter can undergo a variety of changes.

B. Matter can be changed physically or chemically.

Clarification for grades K-5: The target understanding for students in the elementary grades should focus on Big Ideas A and B.

Clarification for Grades 6-8: The target understanding for students in the middle grades should begin to transition the focus to: C. When matter changes chemically, a rearrangement of bonds between the atoms occurs. This results in new substances with new properties.

General Information

Number: SC.4.P.9
Title: Changes in Matter
Type: Big Idea
Subject: Science
Grade: 4
Body of Knowledge: Physical Science

Related Benchmarks

This cluster includes the following benchmarks
Code Description
SC.4.P.9.1: Identify some familiar changes in materials that result in other materials with different characteristics, such as decaying animal or plant matter, burning, rusting, and cooking.


Related Access Points

This cluster includes the following access points.

Independent

Access Point Number Access Point Title
SC.4.P.9.In.1: Observe and describe properties of materials that have been changed into other materials, such as decayed leaves of a plant.

Supported

Access Point Number Access Point Title
SC.4.P.9.Su.1: Indicate differences in materials that have been changed into other materials, such as rust on a can.

Participatory

Access Point Number Access Point Title
SC.4.P.9.Pa.1: Recognize changes in observable properties of materials.


Related Resources

Vetted resources educators can use to teach the concepts and skills in this topic.

Original Student Tutorial

Name Description
Changes In Materials:

Identify some familiar changes in materials that result in other materials with different characteristics in this interactive tutorial.

Lesson Plans

Name Description
Holey Rusted Metal!:

Students will conduct a guided inquiry lab involving the chemical change that creates rust. This lab is meant to be set up in one day and then observed over the course of 3 weeks.

Did It Change?:

Through demonstrations and lab/investigate rotations, students will explore physical and chemical changes.

“Chemical Changes: Rusting and Tarnishing”:

In this integrated ELA lesson, students will determine the cause and effect relationship for types of metals that experience rusting and tarnishing. The students can also compare and contrast the chemical changes of rusting and tarnishing, which will help them further understand how matter can change. This integrated lesson will help students apply comprehension skills to better understand informational text.

Change Matters: Physical and Chemical Changes:

This lesson demonstrates how students can apply the process of comparing and contrasting to demonstrate the similarities and differences between physical and chemical changes in matter. The students will then compare and contrast these changes, assisting them in understanding the different ways matter changes.

Teaching Ideas

Name Description
An Apple a Day:

Students are presented with an apple and are asked to draw it. In each subsequent class period they are asked to draw the same apple again. In this way, they watch and record the changes the apple goes through as it decays.

Bury Your Trash: This activity will allow students to bury various pieces of trash in a plotted area of land outside. After approximately two to three months, the trash will be uncovered to allow the students to investigate what types of materials biodegrade in soil.
Exploring A Decomposition Community: In this classroom lab setting, students will construct Decomposition Columns from two-liter plastic bottles. Students will gather organic material and observe activity in the column. Students will record observations and construction steps in their science notebook.
Investigating Changes In Matter: In this chemistry lab, students will observe a variety of physical and chemical changes in matter.
Sorting Our Way to pH: In this indoor lab activity students will be given a large variety of objects to sort into categories. After practice and discussion, they will then sort food items, first based on their five senses, then by studying their reactions when placed in red cabbage juice. Students document their predictions, observations, the results of their work and their conclusions.

Unit/Lesson Sequence

Name Description
Chemical Change Investigations | Inquiry in Action: In this series of 10 investigations, students gain experience with the evidence of chemical change - production of a gas, change in temperature, color change, and formation of a precipitate. Students begin by observing that similar-looking powders can be differentiated by the way they react chemically with certain test liquids. Students then use their chemical tests and observations to identify an unknown powder and, in a follow-up activity, to identify the active ingredients in baking powder. Students continue to explore chemical change by using a thermometer to observe that temperature either increases or decreases during chemical reactions. Then they control these reactions by adjusting the amount of reactants. In another set of activities, students use the color changes of red cabbage indicator to classify substances as acids or bases, neutralize solutions, and compare the relative acidity of two different solutions. Students conclude the investigation by comparing a precipitate to one of the reactants that formed it. Students see that a new substance was created during the chemical reaction. Information and questions about photosynthesis and cellular respiration are included as examples of chemical changes on pages 316-318 of this resource.


Student Resources

Vetted resources students can use to learn the concepts and skills in this topic.

Original Student Tutorial

Title Description
Changes In Materials:

Identify some familiar changes in materials that result in other materials with different characteristics in this interactive tutorial.