Matter Teaching Resources
Teaching about matter in your science classes? Explore activities, experiments, worksheets and more teacher resources created to help you with your lesson plans and help primary students understand what matter is and what it's made from!
Aligned with the Australian Science curriculum — including version 9 — the resources in this collection offer everything you need to explain the changing states of matter and how it's classified, plus activities that help students better understand the makeup of different molecules.
Whether it's your first year teaching about matter or you just need a handy guide to save time on lesson planning, we've got you covered! Read on for a primer from our teacher team, including a way to explain what matter is to your science classes.
What Is Matter? A Kid-Friendly Definition
So what, exactly, is matter? Here's a helpful explanation from our teacher team that you can use with your class:
Matter can be defined as anything that has mass and occupies space. It's literally the stuff that makes up everything in the universe, including our bodies!
What Is Matter Made Up Of? How to Explain This to Kids
This may sound like a bit of an existential question, but bear with us! Learning what matter is made of can help our students to understand the different properties and behaviour of the various types of matter.
Let's break down all that matter is made of for kids:
- Atoms — All matter is made up of atoms. This is the word we use to describe tiny particles. They're so tiny the human eye can't even see them. Atoms are like the building blocks of matter.
- Molecules — When 2 or more atoms come together and form a bond, you get a molecule. The different combinations and arrangements of atoms and molecules creates the various substances and materials we see, breathe, feel and use every day.
- Plus Plan
States of Matter Virtual Escape Room Game - Laboratory Lockdown
Use a States of Matter Virtual Escape Room activity to engage and excite your students about the forms and changes seen in matter.
- Plus Plan
Comprehending Science - States of Matter Worksheet Pack
Use our Comprehending Science - States of Matter Worksheet Pack to review concepts related to solids, liquids, and gases.
- Plus Plan
Facts of the Matter PowerPoint Presentation
Intoduce your students to matter and change with an engaging interactive teaching presentation for Year 5.
- Plus Plan
The Three States of Matter – Year 5 Reading Worksheets
Use a Year 5 Reading Comprehension passage and worksheet to teach your students about the three states of matter.
- Plus Plan
Chemical and Physical Changes in Matter Doodle Notes Template
Use our Chemical and Physical Change Doodle Notes Template to encourage your students to understand more about changes in matter.
- Plus Plan
Solids, Liquids and Gases PowerPoint
Teaching your students about solids, liquids and gases with an engaging interactive teaching slide presentation.
- Plus Plan
Removing Heat – Ice Cream in a Bag Experiment
Make Ice Cream in a Bag and discover how removing heat causes matter to change states.
- Plus Plan
Understanding States of Matter - Cut and Paste Worksheet
Engage your students with an interactive activity where they cut and paste to match the properties of solids, liquids, and gases.
- Plus Plan
Forms of Matter Brochure Template
Introduce your students to the three states of matter with a printable Forms of Matter Foldable Brochure Template.
- Plus Plan
Properties of Matter Reading Comprehension Pack (Year 3)
Read and discover the properties of matter with a set of Year 3 Reading Comprehension Worksheets.
- Free Plan
States of Matter Word Wall Vocabulary
Review vocabulary related to matter with a printable illustrated States of Matter Word Wall.
- Plus Plan
Solid, Liquid, or Gas? Interactive Game
Make learning about the states of matter interactive and fun with this Solids, Liquids, and Gases Game!
- Free Plan
Sink or Float? Cut and Paste Worksheet
Identify objects that sink and float with a printable cut-and-paste science worksheet for early years.
- Plus Plan
States of Matter Poster Pack
Cover the basics of the states of matter with this set of posters.
- Plus Plan
Physical and Chemical Changes Quiz
Assess your students' knowledge of physical and chemical changes in matter with a printable Physical and Chemical Change Quiz.
- Plus Plan
Forms of Matter - Reading Comprehension Worksheets (Year 5)
Read and learn about forms of matter and its properties with a set of printable reading comprehension worksheets for year 5.
- Plus Plan
Solids, Liquids and Gases – Sorting Activity
Use a hands-on States of Matter sorting activity to help students identify solids, liquids and gases.
- Plus Plan
Describing Matter Properties Worksheet Pack
Observe and describe examples of matter with a Matter Properties Worksheet Pack.
- Plus Plan
Evaporation Experiment - Cover to Conserve
Investigate if evaporation can be reduced by covering a body of water with a hands on Evaporation Experiment.
- Plus Plan
Changing Matter Experiment – How Long Will It Take to Melt?
Explore how solids change into liquids with an exciting hands-on Matter science experiment.
- Plus Plan
Changes in Matter Due to Heat - Worksheets
Identify examples of reversible and irreversible changes caused by heat with a pair of Changing States of Matter Worksheets.
- Plus Plan
Reversible and Irreversible Changes Sort
Identify examples of reversible and irreversible changes with an engaging Matter Card Game for kids!
- Plus Plan
Matter Experiment – Will All Liquids Freeze?
Investigates whether all liquids will change states when heat is removed with an engaging Matter Experiment.
- Plus Plan
States of Matter Word Find - Upper Years
Use a States of Matter word search to introduce your upper-years students to new academic vocabulary.
- Plus Plan
Physical or Chemical Change? - Task Cards
Identify examples of physical and chemical changes in matter with a set of printable task cards.
- Plus Plan
Year 4 States of Matter - Nonfiction Reading Comprehension
Teach science and reading skills with a set of printable Year 4 Reading Worksheets about the three states of matter.
- Plus Plan
States of Matter Maze Worksheets
Practise identifying examples of solids, liquids, and gases with a set of printable States of Matter Maze Worksheets.
- Plus Plan
Changes in States of Matter Teaching Slides
Teach your students about the changes in states of matter with an engaging interactive teaching slide deck.
- Free Plan
Describing Matter – Word Wall
Help your students learn to describe matter using physical properties with an illustrated matter word wall.
- Plus Plan
Changing Properties of Matter Worksheet Pack
Read and learn about chemical and physical properties of matter and how they can be changed with a printable science worksheet pack.
- Plus Plan
Changing States of Matter Worksheets
Introduce your students to the changing phases of matter with a set of printable science worksheets.
- Plus Plan
Properties of Solids, Liquids, and Gases Interactive Game
Discover the properties of solids, liquids, and gases with an engaging Properties of Matter Interactive Game.