Lesson 143: Classifying objects by properties

🔬 SCIENCE (40 Lessons) • 🟡 C. Materials and Matter

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Objective

I can look at objects and tell their properties such as color, size, shape, and material. I can sort objects into groups and explain how I classified them.

Materials

Mini-lesson — Classifying by properties

Every object has properties. Properties are things we can notice about an object, like its color, size, shape, and material.

Examples of properties

  • Color: red, blue, green, yellow.
  • Size: big, small, long, short.
  • Shape: round, square, rectangle, triangle.
  • Material: wood, metal, plastic, glass, cloth.
  • Texture: smooth, rough, soft, hard.

What does classify mean?

  • To classify means to sort or group objects that have something the same.
  • We can make a group of all the red things or all the round things.
  • We can tell why they belong together by saying, "They are all round" or "They are all made of plastic".

Same and different

  • Objects in the same group share at least one property.
  • Objects in different groups have a property that is not the same.
  • We can compare objects by saying how they are same and different.

Clear group names

  • We can give each group a clear name, like "blue objects" or "metal objects".
  • Group names help other people understand our sorting rule.

When you group objects by their properties and explain your groups, you are thinking like a scientist.

Picture strip: Sorting objects by color and shape

Group by color

Group by shape

Guided Practice — Sort objects into groups

You will use real objects to make simple groups. You will say how each group is the same.

  1. Collect objects: With an adult, choose ten to twelve small objects that are safe to handle. Mix them on the table.
  2. Look closely: For each object, notice its color, size, shape, and material.
  3. First sort: Make two groups by one property, such as "color". For example, a group of blue things and a group of red things.
  4. Explain: Point to one group and say a sentence such as "These objects are all blue" or "These are all made of plastic".
  5. Second sort: Mix the objects again and sort by a new property, such as "round or not round" or "small or big".
  6. Label your groups: On paper, draw circles or boxes and write group names like "round" or "metal". Place or draw objects in each group.
  7. Use the tracing pad: Choose words like color, shape, group, or sort from the dropdown and trace them. Say your sorting rule as you write.
Tracing Pad
Tracing snapshot for print
Tip: As you trace, say a full sentence like "I can sort by color" or "These objects have the same shape".

Practice 1 — Sort by one property

Sort objects by one clear property, such as color or size, and name your groups.

  1. Choose at least eight small objects.
  2. Decide one property to use, such as "color" or "size".
  3. Draw two or three boxes on your page and give each box a group name, such as "red", "blue" or "small", "big".
  4. Place or draw each object in the box where it belongs.
  5. Write one sentence to explain your sorting rule, such as "I sorted by color. This group has all the blue objects".

Practice 2 — Sort the same objects in a new way

Use the same objects but choose a different property to make new groups.

  1. Use the same objects from Practice 1.
  2. Pick a new property to sort by, such as "shape" or "material".
  3. Draw new boxes and write group names, for example "round" and "not round" or "plastic" and "metal".
  4. Sort all the objects again using this new rule.
  5. Write one or two sentences to compare your two sorts, such as "Before I sorted by color. Now I sort by shape".

Practice 3 — Same and different sentences

Use words like same, different, smooth, and rough to describe objects in your groups.

  1. Choose one group from your sorting work.
  2. Pick two objects from this group and write one "same" sentence, such as "They are both round".
  3. Then write one "different" sentence, such as "One is big and one is small".
  4. Do this again for another group, using words like "smooth", "rough", "hard", or "soft".
  5. Read your sentences to an adult and ask them which objects you are talking about.

Quick Check — Classifying objects by properties

Answer each question about properties, sorting, and groups. Think about how you classified objects.

1) What is a property of an object?

A property is something we can see, feel, or describe about an object.

2) Which of these is a property?

Round shape is a property you can see and describe.

3) Which list shows three colors?

Red, blue, and green are colors. The others are sizes or materials.

4) Which list shows three materials?

Wood, metal, and plastic are materials that objects can be made of.

5) To classify objects means to…

Classifying means grouping objects that share a property.

6) You make a group called "round objects". Which object belongs in this group?

A ball is round and fits the group name.

7) You make a group called "metal objects". Which of these could be in that group?

A key is usually made of metal, so it goes in the metal group.

8) Which words describe texture?

Smooth and rough tell how something feels to the touch.

9) Two objects are in the same group. Which sentence could be true?

If the group is called "plastic", all objects in it should be plastic.

10) Why do we give names to our groups?

Group names tell other people how we classified the objects.

11) You first sort by color. Then you mix the objects and sort by shape. What did you change?

You used the same objects but a different property each time.

12) Which sentence uses same and different correctly?

The sentence compares a same property (round) and a different one (size).

13) A child says, "I put these in one group because they are all smooth." What did the child do?

The child explained the sorting rule using a property word.

14) Which picture would best show "classifying by properties"?

Sorting blocks into labelled groups is classifying by properties.

15) Why do scientists and students classify objects?

Classifying objects helps us organise information and notice patterns.

Assessment (parent/teacher)

Exit ticket (student)

Next time I will practise…

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