Back to: Science e-catalog Grade e-Journal
e-Journal

Juggling Matter (p. 418)


Step 1. Questions

You use your school desk every day, but have you ever thought about describing its properties? To describe your desk, you might tell about its size, shape, and weight. You might also describe the materials that it is made of. You might explain that the desk has a hard, flat surface for you to work on.

Choose three or four objects that are useful to you. Write an essay that describes them. Before you begin writing, research object properties on the Internet. Here are some questions to guide your research:
  • What are some properties of matter?
  • What words can be used to describe objects?
  • Why are the objects that I have chosen useful to me?
Are you ready? Begin by visiting the Web sites listed in Step 2. Look for answers to the questions above, and write down what you learn in the note-taking boxes.

With teacher supervision, you may use search engines to research other Web sites. You also can research object properties at the library. When you are ready, follow Steps 3 and 4 to write your essay.


Step 2. Research

Research answers to the questions you were asked in Step 1. Visit these Web sites. Take notes about them on this page, too!


Toolbox Tip: Click here to learn how to print a Web page.


What Is Matter?
Read this Web page to learn about matter and its properties. The objects that you will describe are types of matter. Use the different properties discussed on this site to give details about your objects. This Web page is provided by New York University.
Take Notes:



Classroom Picture
Are the objects in this classroom similar to those in your classroom? Perhaps you would like to describe some of the objects in a classroom.
Take Notes:



Household Items
Homes have different types of furniture and gadgets. How might you describe a bed or a bathroom sink? Think about the objects in your home. Would you like to describe any of the objects in your kitchen or in your bedroom?
Take Notes:



Additional Sites

Using Our Five Senses to Describe Fruits and Vegetables
Think about fruits and vegetables. What are some of their properties? This Web page was created by a teacher at a school in North Carolina. The page includes a long list of fruit and vegetable properties. Words that describe objects are called adjectives. Can you use any of the adjectives listed to describe the objects that you have chosen to write about?
Take Notes:



or