You will learn
- Define matter.
- Give examples of matter.
- Show that air is matter.
- Tell matter from non-matter.
Version 0.2 · expanded edition · built from cited public sources Content is based on the official frameworks and sources listed under Sources and standards. No official endorsement is claimed. Written in the style of common primary school assessments. No exam result is promised.
Student lesson
Words to know
anything with mass that takes up space
how much matter something has
room that something takes up
a tiny piece of matter
1. Discover: The empty balloon
Ama blows up a balloon. “It is full of air,” she says. Her teacher asks, “Does air take up space?” Ama sees the balloon pushing outward. “Yes. It makes the balloon bigger.”
Think: What other things take up space but cannot be seen?
2. Understand: Matter
Idea 1: What is matter?
Matter is anything that has mass and takes up space. Tables, water, air and even you are made of matter.
Idea 2: Even air
Air is matter. It takes up space, as an inflated balloon shows, and it has mass, although a very small amount.
Idea 3: Not matter
Light, sound and heat are not matter. They do not have mass or take up space the way objects do.
3. Worked examples
Example 1 (I show you): Test
Is a stone matter?
- Has mass.
- Takes up space.
- Yes.
Answer: A stone is matter.
Example 2 (We do it together): Test
Is air matter?
- Balloon fills.
- Takes space.
- Yes.
Answer: Air is matter.
Example 3 (You try): Test
Is light matter?
Show the steps and answer
- No mass.
- No space.
- No.
Answer: Light is not matter.
Did you know?
A cubic metre of air has a mass of about one kilogram.
Why this matters
Knowing what matter is helps us understand everything physical.
4. Explore: Air takes up space
Show that air takes up space with a cup and water.
- Stuff a paper towel in a cup.
- Turn the cup upside down.
- Push it into a bowl of water.
- Take it out and check the towel.
Think about it: what did you notice?
What did you notice? The towel stayed dry because air took up the space.
5. Practise
Say it in a sentence
Use these starters when you talk about the lesson. Say them out loud.
- Matter has ___ and takes up space.
- Air is ___.
- Light is not ___.
- A balloon is filled with ___.
Guided practice
Question 1. What is matter?
Mass and space.
Question 2. Is air matter?
Yes.
Question 3. Is sound matter?
No.
Independent practice
Level 1: Start
- What is matter?
- Is air matter?
- Is sound matter?
- Name a solid.
- What is mass?
Level 2: Grow
- Why is air matter?
- Why is light not?
- Why does the towel stay dry?
Level 3: Stretch
- Sort matter and non-matter.
- Do the cup test.
- Explain your test.
Answers are in the answer key below. Try first, then check.
6. Apply: Science in everyday life
Name three things that are matter.
Show a sample answer
Water, air, wood.
Another one. Tell a family member one thing from this lesson. Use the words you learned.
Show a sample answer
A clear sentence that uses at least one word from Words to know.
7. Common mistakes
Fix: Air is matter.
Fix: Liquids and gases too.
8. Lesson summary and revision card
- I can define matter.
- I can give examples of matter.
- I can show that air is matter.
- I can tell matter from non-matter.
9. Check and master
Answer all 14 questions. You will see feedback after each one.
Your result appears here after you answer every question.
10. Key takeaways
- Matter has mass and takes up space.
- Solids, liquids and gases are matter.
- Air is matter even though we cannot see it.
- Light and sound are not matter.
11. Next lesson
Next lesson: Solids. Keep going with the next idea in this course.
Exam practice
These questions are written in the style of common school and international primary assessments. Try them on your own, without looking back. Then check your answers in the marking guide. The marks are shown in brackets.
- Define matter. [2 marks]
- Give three examples of matter. [3 marks]
- Name two things that are not matter. [2 marks]
- Show that air is matter. [2 marks]
- Safety rule? [1 mark]
Total: 10 marks.
Marking guide and model answers
- Mass [1]; space [1]
- 1 each
- Any two [1 each]
- Take space [1]; example [1]
- Any [1]
Score guide: 9 to 10 = secure. 6 to 8 = nearly there, revise the parts you missed. Under 6 = work through the lesson again with a grown-up.
Printable worksheet
- What is matter?
- Is air matter?
- Is sound matter?
- Name a solid.
- What is mass?
- Why is air matter?
- Why is light not?
- Why does the towel stay dry?
- Sort matter and non-matter.
- Do the cup test.
Homework
List ten objects in your home and say if each is matter.
Answer key and marking scheme
| Question | Expected response | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1. What is matter? | Mass and space. | 1 |
| 2. Is air matter? | Yes. | 1 |
| 3. Is sound matter? | No. | 1 |
| 4. Name a solid. | Stone. | 1 |
| 5. What is mass? | How much matter. | 1 |
| 6. Why is air matter? | Takes space. | 1 |
| 7. Why is light not? | No mass. | 1 |
| 8. Why does the towel stay dry? | Air fills the cup. | 1 |
| 9. Sort matter and non-matter. | Table. | 1 |
| 10. Do the cup test. | Observation. | 1 |
| Total | 10 |
Independent practice answers. Level 1: 1 Mass and space.; 2 Yes.; 3 No.; 4 Stone.; 5 How much matter.. Level 2: 1 Takes space.; 2 No mass.; 3 Air fills the cup.. Level 3: 1 Table.; 2 Observation.; 3 Paragraph..
Quiz answers: 1 B, 2 C, 3 A, 4 B, 5 C, 6 A, 7 B, 8 C, 9 A, 10 B, 11 C, 12 A, Challenge 1 B, Challenge 2 C.
Mastery and remediation
| Objective | Bronze (Developing) | Silver (Proficient) | Gold (Advanced) |
|---|---|---|---|
| O1 Define matter | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O2 Give examples of matter | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O3 Show that air is matter | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O4 Tell matter from non-matter | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
Courseversity badge thresholds (overall quiz score): Gold = 90–100%; Silver = 80–89.9%; Bronze = 70–79.9%. A badge is never a full record of progress.
If a learner struggles
- Find the misconception: “Air is nothing.” Air is matter.
- Explain another way: use real objects, pictures or actions first, then words.
- Show a simpler example: Define matter and show air is matter.
- Guided practice: work through one example together and let the learner try the next one.
- Reassess: use the quiz again or the worksheet.
- Move on when the learner shows Silver-level evidence independently.
For parents and guardians
In this lesson your child learns what matter is. You do not need to be an expert to help.
- Blow up a balloon together.
- Ask, “What fills it?”
- Wipe spills.
- Ask “how do you know?” after each answer, and listen.
- Praise effort, not only right answers. Mistakes are how we learn.
- Ten to fifteen minutes a day is better than one long session.
Teacher package
1–5. Objectives, prerequisites, materials, preparation, duration
Lesson objectives. Learners will: define matter; give examples of matter; show that air is matter; tell matter from non-matter.
Prerequisite knowledge. Grade 2 matter ideas: solids and liquids, air and water, and the properties of everyday materials.
Materials. Cups, bowls, water, paper towels, balloons. Low-resource options: use chalk or charcoal on a board or wall, drawings in the sand, and objects from the classroom instead of printed materials.
Preparation. Set out bowls and cups.
Suggested duration. 45–60 minutes. It can be split into two shorter sessions.
6–9. Teaching procedure, explanation notes, guided and independent activities
Introduction (5 min). Show a balloon and ask, “What is inside?”
Explanation (10 min). Teach matter.
Guided activity (10 min). Learners test air.
Independent activity (10 min). Learners sort.
Assessment and reflection (5 min). Ask each learner to say one thing they learned and how they know it.
Key questions. Does it have mass? Does it take up space?
Teacher explanation notes. Start with real objects and safe, hands-on observation. Then talk about what was seen, then draw and write. Always say “how do you know?”. Keep to the safety notes, and use local, safe materials.
10–12. Differentiation, formative assessment, common misconceptions
Support. Use real objects and pictures, short sentences and a partner. Let learners point, show or draw instead of writing. Extension. Ask learners to find a new example at home and explain how they know.
Formative assessment. Listen to learners read and explain, ask “how do you know?”, and check the independent work.
Misconceptions. “Air is nothing.” Air is matter.
13–15. Assessment questions, answer keys, marking scheme
Use the quiz, the 10-mark exam practice and the worksheet on this page. All answers and marking guides are in the answer sections above. Re-check every answer before use.
16–19. Remediation, enrichment, homework, teacher reflection
Remediation. Define matter and show air is matter. Enrichment. Look for one new example near your home or school, draw it and explain it to someone. Homework. See above.
Teacher reflection. After teaching, record: which ideas learners understood; which misconceptions occurred; which activities worked; which learners need more practice; and what to improve next time.
Sources and standards
This lesson is based on the sources below, and no official endorsement is claimed. Reference starting points: Next Generation Science Standards, Cambridge Primary Science and the IB Primary Years Programme. Where a standard code is named, it points to the official framework.
Research used to shape this lesson. Courseversity Science curriculum, Grade 3 Unit 5, topic 1; Next Generation Science Standards, structure and properties of matter; Cambridge Primary Science Stage 3, materials; IB Primary Years Programme, how the world works. These sources informed the lesson.