Matter based Mass

4th Grade Science
Matter
Lesson 2

Teacher Facing
August 14, 2024

MRS Icons

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Matter

LO: SWBAT classify and describe matter based on
mass.

DOL: Given scenarios, SW correctly classify and
describe matter based on mass in at least 4 of 5
questions.

SCI.4.6A Classify and describe matter using observable physical properties, including temperature, mass, magnetism, relative density
(the ability to sink or float in water), and physical state (solid, liquid, gas).
SEPs 4.3A, 4.3B,
RTCs 4.5A

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Possible Student Misconceptions

●When calculating mass students often forget to add all of the measurements from the triple beam balance beam together.

●Students may have a problem with calculating the tenths of grams on a triple beam balance.

●Students may think that larger objects have a greater mass than smaller objects, which is not
always true.

●Students may think that mass and weight are the same.

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Essential Understandings &

Guiding Questions

How can we classify and describe matter based

on mass?

How are size and mass connected?

Multiple Choice

The amount of matter in something is...

• length

• volume

• The mass

• height

Multiple Choice

A substance that takes up space and has mass is called

• engineering model

• really cool!

• matter

• scientific reasoning

Multiple Choice

The amount of space that a substance or object takes up is

• property

• mass

• Volume

• length

Multiple Choice

What is this lab equipment called?

• test tube

• graduated cylinder

• dropper

• spring scale

Multiple Choice

What is this tool

• triple beam balance

• beaker

• goggles

• Balance beam

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Lesson Vocabulary

physical property

mass

matter

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How do the balls in

the video differ?

How are they the

same?

How can you
arrange the

masses of the

three balls?

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Measuring Mass Stations

STATION 1: TRIPLE BEAM

BALANCE
STATION 2: PAN BALANCE

STATION 3: DIGITAL SCALE

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STATION 1: TRIPLE BEAM BALANCE

1.

Listen and learn how to read a triple beam balance.

2.

Practice measuring the mass of the different objects.

3.

Add the values from all three riders to get the total mass of the object.

4.

Record the mass on the data
sheet.

Object

100s

10s

1s

Total

Mass (g)

1

2

3

4

5

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STATION 2: PAN BALANCE

1.

Choose one of the objects from
the list.

2.

Predict the mass of the object.

3.

Use the weights with the pan
balance to determine the mass
of the objects.

Object

Predicted
Mass (g)

Measured
Mass (g)

Which object was the heaviest?

Which was the lightest?

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STATION 3: DIGITAL SCALE

Object

Predicted
Mass (g)

Measured
Mass (g)

Pencil

Cellphone

Potatoes

Milk jug

Microwave

Socks

Pillow

1.

Choose one of the objects
from the list.

2.

Predict the mass of the
object.

3.

Place the object on the
scale to determine the mass
of the object.

Which object had the greatest mass?

Which object had the least mass?

Copyright © Savvas Learning Company LLC. All Rights Reserved. Savvas is not responsible for any modifications made by end users to the content posted in its original format.

How can we describe matter?

We can use physical properties to describe matter. A physical
property is a characteristic of matter that can be observed or
measured.

Photo credit: nodff/Shutterstock

Copyright © Savvas Learning Company LLC. All Rights Reserved. Savvas is not responsible for any modifications made by end users to the content posted in its original format.

What are some physical properties?

Mass, temperature, magnetism, and the ability to sink or float in
water are examples of physical properties. Scientists use physical
properties to describe matter.

Photo credit: Air Images/Shutterstock

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Mass is the amount of matter in an object or substance.

Mass is a physical property that can be used to classify matter.

Mass is measured using a balance or a digital scale.

Digital Scale

Pan Balance
Triple Beam

Balance

Mass can be measured in grams.

physical property

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Let’s revisit the phenomenon

1. How can you
arrange the
masses of the

three balls?
2. Arrange the
balls in order from
the least mass to
the greatest mass.

Two friends were talking about the mass of a beach ball and a bowling ball that are the
same size.

Alejandro

Children Vectors by Vecteezy.com

I think that both of the balls will be the

same mass because they are the

same size.

Nia

Children Vectors by Vecteezy.com

I think that the beach ball will have less
mass than the bowling ball because the

beach ball is filled with air.

Which student do you agree with? Justify your thinking and explain why you agree
with one students and disagree with the other.

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A student placed a box of crayons on one side of a pan balance and 200g
using gram weights on the other side. The side of the balance with the
crayons inside moved up, and the side of the balance with the gram
weights moved down. Which statement below about the mass of the box
of crayons is true?

A.

The box of crayons has a mass of 200g.

B.

The box of crayons has a mass less than 200g.

C.

The box of crayons has a mass greater than 200g.

D.

The box of crayons cannot be measured using a pan balance.

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DOL: Given
scenarios, SW
correctly classify and
describe matter
based on mass in at
least 4 of 5
questions.

Demonstration of Learning

●Some images used in this lesson are taken from Adobe Stock. Adobe Stock
https://stock.adobe.com

●Some images used in this lesson are taken from Great Minds. Great Minds
https://digital.greatminds.org

●Some images used in this lesson are taken from SAVVAS realize. SAVVAS
realize https://www.savvasrealize.com

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Copyright for Reference