Classifying Matter
Matter and Energy
Matter Mad Libs
Project:
You will create a Mad Lib about matter
and have a friend supply the missing
words. Then you will illustrate the silly
story!
Materials:
Paper
Pencil
Drawing Materials
This project will use your drawing and
design skills.
Instructions:
1. A Mad Lib is a story with some of the words missing. There is a blank under each
missing word with the type of word written below (for example, noun).
2. The Mad Lib that you will write, is about different ways to classify matter. You
might write a mystery or a science fiction story or something else! There is an
example on the next page to help you start the brainstorming process.
3. Your story should mention all of the ways to classify matter that you have
discussed in class. Include size, mass, volume, temperature, state, magnetism,
and whether the matter sinks or floats. Be creative with your story. It will make
your Mad Lib more fun!
4. When you have selected your favorite idea, begin to write your story. Remember
to leave blanks for your partner to fill in with words. Write the type of word below
the blank.
5. When your story is finished, find a partner. Without reading the story, ask your
partner to supply the types of words needed to complete the story. Record his or
her answers in the blanks.
Continued on the next page
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Classifying Matter
Matter and Energy
Instructions (continued):
6.  When your story is complete, trade places with your partner. Now it is your turn to
think of words for your partner’s story.
7. After both stories are finished, take turns reading them aloud. How do they sound?
Do they still make sense or are they completely silly?
8. Now it’s time to illustrate your story! Use your materials to draw a scene from the
Mad Lib. Include at least two of the ways that your character(s) classified matter.
MAD LIB SAMPLE:
The Jar from Outer Space
The____________ scientist was examining a jar of __________. “_________!” she
adjective
plural noun plural noun
exclaimed. “There are ________ ounces of this stuff.” The scientist could hardly
number
believe her ________. “I must do more __________experiments,” she thought. Next,
body part
adjective
she pulled out her_________ thermometer. Feeling extra ___________, she
color
adjective
grabbed her lucky __________. Then she put the thermometer in the jar.
noun
“___________!” It’s ___________degrees!
plural noun
number
2