3.02 Properties of Matter—Concept Map

What is matter? What are its properties? In this activity you will explore some web resources to determine what matter is and to discover some of the common properties of matter.

Web Resource

Chem4Kids.com's Matter article

• Take notes or print and use a highlighter to mark notes on the page as you read.

• On the first page that loads, read and take note of the definition of matter and its classification. Determine the properties and examples.

• Once in the site, use the menu on the upper left to move to each of the pages. Do not use the "next stop on the Tour" button at the bottom of each page (it will eventually send you off to totally unrelated material).

Assignment

To show your understanding of the concepts presented here, you are going to create a concept map. A concept map is a pictorial representation of information.

• When you map a subject, connections between ideas are shown with a line.

• You can describe the connection between the ideas by writing on or next to the line that connects the two ideas.

• The general topic is written near the top of the chart.

• That topic is broken down into sub-topics, like energy levels are broken down into sub-levels.

• The farther down the chart you go, the more specific the information becomes.

If you have never done a visual concept map before, you might want to jump to the following web site which discusses concept mapping: Graphic Organizers

There are several ways that the concept map itself can be produced.

• In your word processor drawing program there are drawing tools that allow for text boxes, shapes and lines that can be used to create the map.

• In many word processors there are concept map tools.

• If you have Inspiration Software, an actual concept making software program, you can use that.

• Also, Microsoft Power Point has drawing tools.

So there are lots of ways to do this. If you need help, make sure to contact your instructor.