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5th-grade science · 2-day units for Dean

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Matter & Molecules
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Matter, Atoms & Molecules · 0 of 15 questions mastered

A1Identifying Matter

Matter is anything that takes up space and has weight or mass. Almost everything around you is matter.

Sort these examples into 'Matter' or 'Not Matter'.

Pick a category for each.

A wooden desk
Oxygen gas
A happy feeling
Water

A1What is Matter?

If it has mass and takes up space, it is matter. This includes solids, liquids, and gases.

Is each of these things considered matter?

Pick a category for each.

A pencil
Air in a balloon
The sound of a bell
A gold ring

A1Classifying Objects

Everything we touch and breathe is made of matter. Remember, matter has weight and occupies space.

Can you identify which of these are matter?

Pick a category for each.

A glass of milk
A dream you had
A plastic toy
Your science textbook

A2Substance or Mixture?

A pure substance is the same all the way through. A mixture is made of different parts that can be separated.

Is this a pure substance or a mixture?

Pick a category for each.

A bar of pure gold
A fresh garden salad
Pure oxygen gas
Sand mixed with water

A2Checking the Difference

If you can separate the parts easily without a chemical change, it is a mixture. Pure substances are identical throughout.

Sort these into Substance or Mixture.

Pick a category for each.

Plain table salt
A bag of marbles
Pure water
A fruit smoothie

A2Pure vs Combined

Matter that is exactly the same throughout is a substance. Matter that combines items you can see is a mixture.

Determine if each is a Substance or a Mixture.

Pick a category for each.

A piece of pure iron
A mixture of oil and water
Pure helium gas
Soil from the backyard

A3Atoms vs Molecules

Atoms are the tiny building blocks. Molecules form when atoms join or bond together.

Is this an Atom or a Molecule?

Pick a category for each.

A single oxygen atom
Water (H2O)
A hydrogen atom
Oxygen gas (O2)

A3Spotting the Difference

Everything is built from atoms. When two or more atoms bond, they create a molecule.

Classify these as Atom or Molecule.

Pick a category for each.

A carbon atom
A sugar molecule
A gold atom
A salt particle

A3Smallest Building Blocks

Atoms combine to form everything. Molecules are just atoms that have joined forces.

Decide if these are Atoms or Molecules.

Pick a category for each.

A nitrogen atom
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
A helium atom
A water particle

A4Element or Compound?

An element is made of one type of atom. A compound is made of two or more different atoms bonded together.

Is it an Element (same atoms) or a Compound (different atoms)?

Pick a category for each.

Pure gold
Water (H2O)
Pure oxygen
Carbon dioxide

A4Defining Compounds

If a molecule is made of different types of atoms bonded, it is a compound. If it's one type, it's an element.

Sort into Element or Compound.

Pick a category for each.

Pure iron
Table salt (NaCl)
Pure copper
Sugar

A4Building Substances

Everything is matter. Depending on how atoms bond, they form either elements or compounds.

Is this substance an Element or a Compound?

Pick a category for each.

Pure silver
Pure hydrogen gas
Water
Baking soda

A5Molecules and Properties

The way atoms are arranged determines how a substance looks, smells, and behaves.

Why do different substances have different properties, like smell or melting point?

A5Breaking Down Water

A molecule is the smallest part of a substance that keeps that substance's properties. If you break it, you change the substance.

What happens if you split a water molecule into individual hydrogen and oxygen atoms?

A5Understanding Dissolving

Some solids like salt and sugar dissolve because their molecules get pulled apart and mix evenly in water.

Why do some solids like salt dissolve in water while sand does not?

Watch this after the lesson!

World's Tallest Elephant Toothpaste Volcano

A giant eruption of foam — watch matter transform in the most explosive way possible. (Mark Rober)

Open on YouTube →