Grades 4-6 Module 1: Matter, Forces, and Amazing Machines

About Course

Available from September 15, 2026:

Module 1: Matter, Forces, and Amazing Machines

What is everything around us made of? Why do some objects float, others sink, and machines make difficult jobs easier?

In this five-week science module, students build a clear understanding of matter, materials, fluids, forces, motion, and simple machines. They begin with particles, atoms, and molecules, then use those ideas to explain changes of state, dissolving, density, buoyancy, friction, and mechanical advantage.

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for homeschool students in Grades 4-6.

No previous science course is required. Core explanations are accessible to younger students, while optional Going Further readings and research questions give older or more advanced learners additional depth.

How the course works

The module contains 15 classes which can be taken at any pace; three classes per week yield a well paced five week course.

Each class includes:

a short instructor video;
a complete handout with structured reading-and-work lesson;
questions and journal activities;
a clear Words to Know glossary;
an optional Going Further reading;
opportunities to practise observation, measurement, explanation, and fair testing.

Most classes take approximately 30-35 minutes. Students complete hands-on experiments and investigation each week, using commonly accessible materials (no special science kits are required).

Founding Family pricing:

The discounted rate applies for registrations within 2 weeks of the enrolment opening date.

Certificates

Every student who completes the module receives a certificate of completion.

Students who complete this module together with any two additional Stream 1 science modules will also receive a certificate recognizing the completion of a full academic year of science study.

What everything is made of — particles, solids, liquids, and gases, mixtures and solutions, and why a material\'s structure decides what it can do. How matter changes — melting, dissolving, and separating, plus the chemical reactions behind everyday surprises. Forces and motion — gravity, friction, magnetism, and pressure, and how pushes and pulls start, stop, speed up, and steer everything around us.
Machines and flight — levers, pulleys, ramps, and other simple machines that make work easier, plus the four forces that keep things flying.

Course Content

Week 1: Properties of Matter and Materials
What matter is and how we know it is present. Particles, atoms, molecules, and elements. Solids, liquids, and gases. Invisible particle motion, diffusion, and currents in liquids.

W1 Class 1: Matter and the Material World

05:26
W1 Class 2: Particles, Atoms & Molecules
W1 Class 3: Invisible Motion

Week 2: States of Matter and Thermal Changes
How particles are arranged and move in solids, liquids, and gases. Melting, freezing, evaporation, boiling, and condensation. The difference between heat and temperature, how thermal energy moves, and how insulation works.

Week 3: Mixtures, Solutions, and Separation
Pure substances, mixtures, and solutions. Separating materials by size, settling, magnetism, filtration, and evaporation. What happens when a substance dissolves, and how temperature affects solubility.

Week 4: Fluids: Density, Buoyancy, and Pressure
How density is calculated and used to predict floating and sinking. How viscosity differs from density. Pressure in liquids, displacement, buoyancy, and why a steel ship can float while a steel bolt sinks.

Week 5: Forces, Motion, and Simple Machines
Balanced and unbalanced forces, friction, and ways to describe motion. Levers, pulleys, wheels and axles, inclined planes, wedges, and screws. How machines trade distance for force, followed by a hands-on engineering design challenge.

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Grades 4-6 Module 1: Matter, Forces, and Amazing Machines

About Course

Available from September 15, 2026:

Module 1: Matter, Forces, and Amazing Machines

Who is the course for?

How the course works

Each class includes:

Founding Family pricing:

Certificates

What Will You Learn?

Course Content

Week 1: Properties of Matter and Materials
What matter is and how we know it is present. Particles, atoms, molecules, and elements. Solids, liquids, and gases. Invisible particle motion, diffusion, and currents in liquids.

W1 Class 1: Matter and the Material World

W1 Class 2: Particles, Atoms & Molecules

W1 Class 3: Invisible Motion

Week 2: States of Matter and Thermal Changes
How particles are arranged and move in solids, liquids, and gases. Melting, freezing, evaporation, boiling, and condensation. The difference between heat and temperature, how thermal energy moves, and how insulation works.

W2 Class 1: The Three States of Matter

W2 Class 2: Changing States

W2 Class 3: Heat, Temperature, and Insulation

Week 3: Mixtures, Solutions, and Separation
Pure substances, mixtures, and solutions. Separating materials by size, settling, magnetism, filtration, and evaporation. What happens when a substance dissolves, and how temperature affects solubility.

W3 Class 1: Mixtures and Solutions

W3 Class 2: The Separation Toolkit

W3 Class 3: Dissolving, Explained

Week 4: Fluids: Density, Buoyancy, and Pressure
How density is calculated and used to predict floating and sinking. How viscosity differs from density. Pressure in liquids, displacement, buoyancy, and why a steel ship can float while a steel bolt sinks.

W4 Class 1: Density

W4 Class 2: Viscosity

W4 Class 3: Buoyancy and Pressure

Week 5: Forces, Motion, and Simple Machines
Balanced and unbalanced forces, friction, and ways to describe motion. Levers, pulleys, wheels and axles, inclined planes, wedges, and screws. How machines trade distance for force, followed by a hands-on engineering design challenge.

W5 Class 1: Forces and Motion

W5 Class 2: The Six Simple Machines

W5 Class 3: The Design Challenge

About Course

Available from September 15, 2026:

Module 1: Matter, Forces, and Amazing Machines

Who is the course for?

How the course works

Each class includes:

Founding Family pricing:

Certificates

What Will You Learn?

Course Content

Week 1: Properties of Matter and Materials What matter is and how we know it is present. Particles, atoms, molecules, and elements. Solids, liquids, and gases. Invisible particle motion, diffusion, and currents in liquids.

W1 Class 1: Matter and the Material World

W1 Class 2: Particles, Atoms & Molecules

W1 Class 3: Invisible Motion

Week 2: States of Matter and Thermal Changes How particles are arranged and move in solids, liquids, and gases. Melting, freezing, evaporation, boiling, and condensation. The difference between heat and temperature, how thermal energy moves, and how insulation works.

W2 Class 1: The Three States of Matter

W2 Class 2: Changing States

W2 Class 3: Heat, Temperature, and Insulation

Week 3: Mixtures, Solutions, and Separation Pure substances, mixtures, and solutions. Separating materials by size, settling, magnetism, filtration, and evaporation. What happens when a substance dissolves, and how temperature affects solubility.

W3 Class 1: Mixtures and Solutions

W3 Class 2: The Separation Toolkit

W3 Class 3: Dissolving, Explained

Week 4: Fluids: Density, Buoyancy, and Pressure How density is calculated and used to predict floating and sinking. How viscosity differs from density. Pressure in liquids, displacement, buoyancy, and why a steel ship can float while a steel bolt sinks.

W4 Class 1: Density

W4 Class 2: Viscosity

W4 Class 3: Buoyancy and Pressure

Week 5: Forces, Motion, and Simple Machines Balanced and unbalanced forces, friction, and ways to describe motion. Levers, pulleys, wheels and axles, inclined planes, wedges, and screws. How machines trade distance for force, followed by a hands-on engineering design challenge.

W5 Class 1: Forces and Motion

W5 Class 2: The Six Simple Machines

W5 Class 3: The Design Challenge

Student Ratings & Reviews

Week 1: Properties of Matter and Materials
What matter is and how we know it is present. Particles, atoms, molecules, and elements. Solids, liquids, and gases. Invisible particle motion, diffusion, and currents in liquids.

Week 2: States of Matter and Thermal Changes
How particles are arranged and move in solids, liquids, and gases. Melting, freezing, evaporation, boiling, and condensation. The difference between heat and temperature, how thermal energy moves, and how insulation works.

Week 3: Mixtures, Solutions, and Separation
Pure substances, mixtures, and solutions. Separating materials by size, settling, magnetism, filtration, and evaporation. What happens when a substance dissolves, and how temperature affects solubility.

Week 4: Fluids: Density, Buoyancy, and Pressure
How density is calculated and used to predict floating and sinking. How viscosity differs from density. Pressure in liquids, displacement, buoyancy, and why a steel ship can float while a steel bolt sinks.

Week 5: Forces, Motion, and Simple Machines
Balanced and unbalanced forces, friction, and ways to describe motion. Levers, pulleys, wheels and axles, inclined planes, wedges, and screws. How machines trade distance for force, followed by a hands-on engineering design challenge.