Developed by Logan B.
Essential Question:
Where do we see properties of matter in our everyday life?
Background Knowledge:
- Students understand solids, liquids, and gases.
- Students understand the five senses.
- Students understand the definition of a physical property of matter. Physical properties are used to describe matter.
Materials:
- Journal (to record size, texture, shape, color, taste)
- Pencil
- Toothpicks
- Hand lens or magnifying glass
- Plates
- Cookies
- Crackers
- Anything else you love to snack on!
Safety Protocol:
If chosen to bake their own cookies, use oven mitts to get cookies out of the oven.
Activity Procedure:
Step 1: Gather all your materials and ask yourself these questions:
Where do we see properties of matter in our everyday life? How can understanding physical properties of matter help make sense of things in our everyday life?
Step 2: Arrange plates out in a row and place one cookie or cracker on each plate.
Using your eyes, what are some physical properties that you can observe? What colors do you see? What textures do you see?
Step 3: Take out a journal and make an organized chart (or use the one below) to record the shape, texture, taste, color, size of each cookie, or odor of the cracker, cereal, or other snacks. Remember property is a characteristic that we can observe or use to describe matter!
Step 4: Observe each type of cookies or crackers or cereal (others) one by one and record your observations in your journal
Step 5: Use your hand lens or magnifying glass to observe more closely and record your observations in your journal.
What additional physical properties could you see with your hand lens?
Step 6: Use the toothpick or other utensil to carefully break apart the cookie or cracker. Record your observations in your journal.
What additional physical properties could you find with the toothpick?
What connections can you make about the physical properties of each snack item and how much you like the snack?
Step 7: With parent/guardian permission, share the results of your activity on social media using #AUHomeWorks!
| Shape | Texture | Taste | Color | Size | |
| Snack 1 | |||||
| Snack 2 |