Physical Properties of Matter Activities for 4th Grade Science

The Kesler Science Physical Properties of Matter 4th Grade Complete 5E Lesson provides a comprehensive, engaging approach to teaching classification of matter. This multi-day lesson incorporates student-led learning, minimal prep, and flexible resources, ensuring accessibility for all learners. With print and digital options, editable PowerPoints, and Spanish translations, teachers can customize the lesson to fit their classroom needs.

Following the 5E Model, students engage in discussions, explore hands-on station labs, and deepen understanding through multimodal input and output activities. Differentiated reading passages, experiments, research tasks, and creative extensions allow students to process and demonstrate their knowledge in various ways. The Challenge It! station offers an extra layer of enrichment for advanced learners.

Evaluation tools include assessments, review worksheets, and student-choice projects, making it easy to track progress. With ready-to-use materials designed for both in-person and virtual learning, this lesson ensures students grasp key physical science concepts while fostering independence and critical thinking.

The Kesler Science Physical Properties of Matter Station Lab provides an engaging, hands-on approach to learning key physical science concepts. Fourth grade students will explore mass, volume, states of matter, temperature, magnetism, and buoyancy through differentiated, student-led activities. These comprehensive materials allow teachers to facilitate learning while minimizing prep time.

With nine modular stations, students encounter new information through interactive experiences, including experiments, research, reading, and videos. Output stations challenge students to organize, illustrate, write, and assess their knowledge, with a bonus station for early finishers. Multimodal resources support various learning styles, ensuring accessibility for all students.

Designed for flexibility, the station lab includes print and digital versions, allowing students to engage in the classroom or through virtual learning. Common classroom materials make implementation easy, while differentiation options ensure all learners can succeed.

The Kesler Science Physical Properties of Matter Student Choice Projects empower 4th grade students to showcase their understanding through creative, student-led projects. With six structured options plus a “design your own” project, students can select an approach that aligns with their learning style. A flexible grading rubric supports teacher, peer, or self-assessment.

Designed for differentiation, the project board includes modified options for students needing extra support, while advanced learners can take on multiple projects. Editable rubrics allow teachers to tailor assessments based on vocabulary, concepts, presentation, clarity, and accuracy.

These projects require common classroom materials like paper, markers, and scissors, with digital options available for tech-friendly implementation. Engaging and adaptable, this resource fosters student independence while reinforcing key science concepts.

The Kesler Science Physical Properties of Matter Science and ELA Integrated Writing Activity engages 4th grade students in exploring the physical properties of a ping pong ball and a marble through a creative skit or drama format. This interactive approach deepens their science reasoning while enhancing their writing skills. Designed for both in-person and virtual learning, this resource keeps students actively involved beyond the classroom.

Standards-aligned to TEKS and NGSS, this low-prep activity offers multiple ways for students to demonstrate their understanding. Full-sized and half-sheet handouts, a projection version, and a digital interactive format provide flexible options for any learning environment. A detailed teacher guide includes answer keys, project ideas, and rubrics to support assessment.

Ideal for cross-curricular instruction, pre-assessments, student choice projects, and differentiation, this writing activity supports deeper engagement with physical properties of matter. It works seamlessly as an extension activity, extra credit, or even as a TELPAS writing sample, making it a versatile tool for science and literacy integration.

The Kesler Science Physical Science WIKI Tickets provide engaging formative assessments for 3rd–5th grade science. This set includes 37 exit tickets aligned to NGSS and TEKS, covering chemistry, energy, force, and motion topics.

Each assessment comes in five formats: a full-screen display for projection, three printable handout sizes, and an interactive digital version compatible with PowerPoint and Google Slides. A table of contents file ensures easy standard alignment.

WIKI Tickets (“What I Know Is”) serve as exit tickets, bellringers, or quick checks for understanding, making them a versatile tool for both in-person and virtual learning environments.

Year-Round Resources

These year-round activities will increase your students' understanding of many middle school science topics. All of these activities are also included in the Kesler Science Membership.

Visual Data & Graphing

You're not alone if your students struggle with understanding graphs, charts, and tables. It's a skill that takes an enormous amount of practice. This resource will help students build a strong foundation in analyzing data and creating their own data visualizations.

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Bell Ringers and Warm-Ups

These middle school science bell ringers are an excellent way to engage your students as soon as they walk into your classroom. This comprehensive FULL YEAR resource includes everything you need to start off each science class with an interesting warm-up activity.

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Review Board Games

Each game board has been carefully designed to keep students engaged. There are 10 different action spaces on each board and dozens of question cards. All of the actions are related to science concepts and keep the students motivated throughout the game.

Each game is ready to play. Simply print out the board and the cards and let the students enjoy reviewing nine different units.

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Essential Questions

Below are the essential questions associated with the lessons and activities included in this unit. This topic is only one of more than 100 middle school science topics included in the Kesler Science Membership.

Essential Questions

In what ways are physical properties used for classification of matter?