Library Connections
Grade 3, 1st OI
What’s the Matter? – Properties of Matter
TEKS 5(B) describe and classify samples of matter as solids, liquids, and gases and demonstrate that
solids have a definite shape and that liquids and gases take the shape of their container.
EQ: What are the properties of matter?
Organizing Idea / Activity: Continuity and Change
Learning Target: I can describe and classify matter as solids, liquids, or gases. I can identify the
properties of matter.
Materials / Resources
What’s the Matter in Mr. Whisker’s Room by Michael Ross (507 ROS)
Matter Really Matters by J.M. Patten (530.4 PAT)
Matter
by Christine Webster (530 Web)
Vocabulary card: “Properties”
Balloon filled with air
Bottle of water
Wooden block
Prior Knowledge: Students are learning about matter and the measurement of matter.
They are using balances and grams to find the mass of objects.
Procedure
1. Briefly review matter by showing students the balloon, the water, and the block. Ask
them to classify each item as a solid, a liquid, or a gas and to explain why.
2. Tell students that there are many nonfiction books in the library that will help them
learn more about matter. Mr. Dewey put all of the books about matter in 530 to make
them easy to locate in the library. (Take students to this location when they are ready to
check out books).
3. Briefly summarize What’s the Matter in Mr. Whisker’s Room? Let students know that
the book is too long to share in our library lesson, but that it would be a great book to
check out and read independently. The author has written a nonfiction narrative that
uses humor to teach lessons about matter. (See Extension 1 for an alternate plan).
4. Display the vocabulary card “Properties.” Have students brainstorm the meaning in
relationship to matter, or you can define the word for the students. Tell them that the
book you will be reading explains what property means when it refers to matter. Ask
them to listen for the word property as you read so they can share their
understanding of the meaning. Read the book Matter Really Matters.
5. After reading, review the meaning of property and work with students to identify
specific examples of the properties of matter.
Extension:
1. Read and discuss What’s the Matter in Mr. Whisker’s Room? Students will be able to
identify the properties of matter using Mr. Whisker’s reminders.
2. Visit www.teachingbooks.net to find a Mr. Whisker’s lesson plan from Candlewick Press
that featuring experiments students can do at home.
3. Play with matter and property by listing the different meanings of the words.
a. Matter (What’s the matter? That doesn’t matter. Solid, liquid, or gas).
b. Property (something you can own, an attribute, intellectual property)
Library Speak Melvil Dewey, Dewey Decimal System