During our matter inquiry students learned a song about matter and learned how to categorize various types of matter as liquids, solids or gases. They also explored how like items (eg. a chair) may have different properties even though they are both solids.

Also, as we were exploring the concept of matter, one Div 9 student posed a very good question: If something is light will it always float and if something is heavy will it always sink? To answer this question we conducted an experiment. Students soon discovered that weight alone is not the only factor in determining whether or not it will float or sink. As they were testing out their predictions they quickly discovered that objects sinking or floating in a liquid depends mainly on two factors: density and buoyancy.