Carolina Curriculum: GEMS > Kits for Grades K-5

- Building Blocks of Science
  Home Page
- Shop for Kits
- Workshop Information
- About Building Blocks of Science
- Science Magnifier
- What is Science Magnifier?
- Teacher Resources
- Thinking Big

Expanded view of the Matter Kit

GEMS^® Matter (Grades 1–3)

An understanding of matter is fundamental to scientific literacy. Designed to meet the demand for improved physical science units in the early grades, the GEMS Matter guide challenges students to inquire into the physical world around them. Within this unit students explore solids, liquids, and gases, then delve deeper into states of matter when looking at “challenging substances.”

Within 6 to 7 classroom sessions students explore and classify collections of common materials, visit stations within their classroom to collect their own solids and liquids, sort them, and create a classroom display. Also, they are introduced to “challenging substances” such as shaving cream, tooth paste, and even Glook. In Activity 4 students are introduced to the term “matter,” and are challenged to classify objects as having matter or not having matter through the use of spring scales and other tests. Gases are introduced at the conclusion of Activity 4 and then fully explored within Activity 5. Learning about matter can be challenging for students. Suggestions for tying the concepts covered within the unit to the world around them are provided for teachers to use during instruction throughout the day.

WARNING: THIS UNIT CAN LEAD TO A FASCINATION WITH SCIENCE.


Benefits of using this kit:
	Introduces foundational science concepts that lead to student success
	Strongly aligned with multiple state standards and the National Science Education Standards and Bench Marks for Science Literacy
	Provides clear step-by-step instruction, assessment suggestions, literature connections, and ideas for further instruction

Goals Standards In the Kit Pilot this Kit Support

Goals of Matter
	Students are able to compare and sort objects according to their observable properties.
	Students can define the properties of and discuss the differences between solids, liquids, and gases.
	Students are able to describe the characteristics of certain “challenging substances” that are difficult to classify as solid or liquid.
	Students understand that gases are matter because gases take up space and have mass.
	Students deepen their understanding of matter as something that takes up space and has mass, and are able to explain why all solids, liquids, and gases are matter.
	Students demonstrate increased understanding of what scientific evidence is, and improve in their ability to support their explanations with evidence.

National Standards addressed by Matter:

	Physical Science Standard, K–4: The properties of objects and materials.
	Inquiry Standard, K–4: Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry.
	Science and Technology Standard, K–4: Abilities of technological design.
	Unifying Concepts and Principles: Constancy, change and measurement.

In the Kit:
The unit kit comes with a Teacher's Guide, a Teacher's Pack containing: copy masters, MSDS sheets, matrix of provided materials where used and materials needed but not supplied, and materials needed for a class of 32 students.

Try the Carolina Curriculum Pilot Program
What’s the best way to learn about STC Program®, Building Blocks of Science™, Math Out of the Box®, or GEMS Kits®? Pilot a unit in your school or district!

Here's how it works:

	Complete the pilot information request form.
	You choose a lead teacher(s) to pilot the units.
	Carolina ships the selected unit kit(s) to your school/district.
	At the end of the pilot, you can purchase one of the unit kits for 10% off the catalog price!

Contact our Sales Staff
Carolina’s Curriculum Sales and Services group provides districts and schools that are evaluating curriculum with samples, professional planning, and implementation assistance. Our staff includes in-office curriculum account managers and regional sales managers in the field. Click here to contact the account manager and sales manager for your school district.

Customer Service
All Carolina customers have their own customer service representative, determined by state, to meet their specific needs. Click here for customer service representative contact information.

Technical Support
With Carolina's technical support staff, you have access to knowledgeable professionals with expertise in many areas of the sciences. Call 800-227-1150 (8 am to 5 pm ET) or email curriculum@carolina.com and trained staff will answer your questions about a Carolina Curriculum product or provide additional information.


	Matter Kit This Kit comes with a Teacher's Guide, an information packet, and the materials needed for a class of 30.

	Matter Kit Teacher's Guide Additional Teacher's Guides are available if you need them.

	Matter Kit Refill Pack This set replenishes the consumable materials in the Kit.