Materials Around Us | Class 6 Science Notes
By ConceptScroll Team · Published on 17 July 2026 · 3 min read
Materials Around Us – this guide gives you a concise, exam-ready overview of Materials Around Us from Class 6 Science, written by ConceptScroll editors and reviewed against the latest NCERT textbook.
6.4 What is Matter?
This section introduces the fundamental concept of matter. It explains that anything that occupies space and has mass is called matter. Mass quantifies the amount of matter present in an object and is measured in grams (g) or kilograms (kg). Volume is the space occupied by matter and is measured in litres (L) or millilitres (mL). The International System of Units (SI) uses kilogram (kg) for mass and cubic metre (m³) for volume, where 1 m³ equals 1000 litres.
The section emphasizes correct notation and usage of units: 'kg' is written without a space or full stop, and a space is left between the numerical value and the unit (e.g., 7 kg). Similarly, litre is abbreviated as 'L' and millilitre as 'mL', with no space between 'm' and 'L'.
The teacher uses examples like water bottles of different sizes labeled with volume to illustrate the concept of volume. The section also discusses that air is matter since it occupies space and has mass, even though it is invisible. It encourages students to consider various materials around them as examples of matter.
The section reiterates that materials are types of matter used to make objects and that materials differ in appearance and behavior. Classification of materials based on properties helps in studying and understanding patterns. It draws a parallel with classification in the living world, such as plants and animals, and introduces the ancient Indian system of classification from Ayurveda, which describes 20 properties (guṇa) in pairs of opposites used to describe physical matter, living systems, environment, and food. These properties include heavy/light, slow/quick, cold/hot, smooth/rough, solid/liquid, hard/soft, stable/unstable, subtle/gross, and others.
The section ends with a reflection on how materials like plastic have impacted human life and the continuity of material classification from ancient times to the present.
📊 Diagram: Images of water bottles with volume labels; air as matter; ancient and modern classification illustrations; Ayurvedic property table.
🔗 Connection: Prepares for the summary and reinforcement activities that consolidate the chapter's concepts.
Frequently asked questions
What is a material in the context of objects around us?
A material is any substance used to create an object. For example, paper is a material used to make notebooks.
Which of the following materials was used in the ancient Indian subcontinent for making pottery?
Clay
Why is it not a good idea to use paper-like materials for making cooking utensils?
Paper-like materials are not suitable for cooking utensils because they cannot hold water or withstand heat. For example, a paper tumbler would get wet and lose its shape when used for liquids.
Which property would you use to group the following objects: a wooden chair, a plastic bottle, a glass tumbler, and a metal spoon?
Material they are made up of
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