Investigating Matter introduces Grade 5 students to real-world examples to real-world examples and fundamental concepts of matter, which will be explored in greater depth in later grades. Students will learn about properties, structures, and interactions of matter as well as the basics of the language of chemistry. Students come to comprehend that matter is all around us. The things we see—a tree, a window—and even things we can’t see—air, the smell of a rose—are all made up of matter. They describe and identify matter in terms of properties, such as color, hardness, and whether a material conducts electricity or responds to magnetism. Also, students explore both physical and chemical changes in matter.

Students also learn that engineers use their knowledge of matter as they develop solutions to problems and build things that are useful to people. As a series of culminating activities, students explore the principles and practices of engineering design, such as scientifically defining a problem to be solved and evaluating and optimizing possible solutions.