Exploring Properties of Matter
Everything around you is made of matter. Matter is anything that takes up space and has weight. Your desk, your shoes, and your pencil are all made of matter. Even the water you drink and the air inside a balloon are matter! Scientists observe the properties of matter to understand how things work. A property is a trait you can describe using your senses.
You can use your eyes to look at color and shape. For example, a ripe apple is bright red and round. A wooden block can be yellow, flat, and square. You can also look at the size of an object. Some things are huge like a yellow school bus. Other objects are tiny like a grain of sand on the beach.
You can use your hands to feel the texture of matter. Texture tells you how an object feels when you touch it. A fluffy puppy feels soft and warm against your fingers. A sidewalk feels rough, hard, and bumpy. A sponge feels squishy and soft. Testing how things feel is a great way to sort objects into groups.
- matter:
- Anything that takes up space and has weight.
- observe:
- To watch or study something carefully using your senses.
- property:
- A trait or feature that describes how something looks, feels, or acts.
- texture:
- How an object feels when you touch it, such as smooth or rough.
- weight:
- How heavy or light an object is.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1What is matter according to the passage?
- 2What two things can you observe about an object by looking at it with your eyes?
About this informational passage for 2nd Grade
“Exploring Properties of Matter” is a informational reading passage about Properties of Matter, written for 2nd Grade. It takes about 2 minutes to read (246 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.