Grade 4 Science And Technology Matter – properties of matter Notes
Matter — Properties of Matter
Subject: Science and Technology
Subtopic: Properties of Matter
Target age: 9 years (Kenyan context)
Subtopic: Properties of Matter
Target age: 9 years (Kenyan context)
What is matter?
Matter is everything that takes up space and has weight. You can touch most matter. Examples: water from a tap, a stone, milk, cooking oil.
States of matter (easy)
🪨 🧱
SolidKeeps its shape (example: stones, sugar, ugali).
💧 🥛
LiquidFills the bottom of a container (example: water, milk, cooking oil).
☁️ 🔥
GasInvisible or spread out (example: steam from a kettle, air, smoke from nyama choma).
Important properties of matter (simple)
- Shape: Does it keep one shape (solid) or change to fit a container (liquid)?
- Size: Big or small — e.g., a large stone or a small pebble.
- Colour and smell: Colour (white sugar), smell (soap, mango).
- Texture: How it feels — rough (sand), smooth (glass).
- Hardness: Hard (rock) or soft (banana).
- Mass (weight): How heavy something is. Use a balance or scale.
- Volume: How much space it takes — measured with a cup, bottle or measuring cylinder.
- Solubility: Does it dissolve in water? (salt dissolves, sand does not)
- Magnetism: Does a magnet pick it up? (steel nail yes, stone no)
- Floats or sinks (density): Some things float on water (wood), others sink (stone).
Simple activities (try with an adult)
1. Float or sink 🪵⚪
Materials: a tub of water, a stone, a small piece of wood, a coin.
Steps: put each item in water. Does it float or sink? Talk about why (density).
Materials: a tub of water, a stone, a small piece of wood, a coin.
Steps: put each item in water. Does it float or sink? Talk about why (density).
2. Solubility test 🧂💧
Materials: glass of water, spoon, salt, sand.
Steps: stir salt in water (it disappears = dissolves). Stir sand (it stays = does not dissolve).
Materials: glass of water, spoon, salt, sand.
Steps: stir salt in water (it disappears = dissolves). Stir sand (it stays = does not dissolve).
3. Watch ice melt 🧊➡️💧
Put an ice cube on a plate and watch it melt into water. Talk about state change (solid to liquid).
Put an ice cube on a plate and watch it melt into water. Talk about state change (solid to liquid).
Safety note: Always do activities with an adult. Do not heat things without adult supervision.
Quick questions (for learners)
- Is milk a solid, liquid or gas?
- Does a stone float or sink in water?
- What happens when you stir sugar in water?
Answers (click to open)
1. Milk is a liquid.
2. A stone sinks.
3. Sugar dissolves and seems to disappear (it dissolves in water).
2. A stone sinks.
3. Sugar dissolves and seems to disappear (it dissolves in water).
Teacher / Parent notes
- Learning goals: recognise properties of matter, identify states, perform simple tests (float/sink, solubility).
- Materials: water container, common classroom/house items (wood, stone, coin, salt, sugar, sand).
- Assessment idea: give pupils 3 items and ask them to say the state and one property (e.g., "This is a solid and it is hard").