Everything around us is made of matter.  Cars, rocks, people, and plants are all made of matter.  Matter makes up everything around us!

Some things are soft.  Fur, a blanket, and feathers are soft.

Some things are hard.  A rock, a wall are hard and wood are hard.

Some things float.  Put some things in water and they stay at the top of the water.  A light plastic ball floats on water.  A cork floats on water.  A feather floats on water.

Some things sink.  When put in water, they go down to the bottom.  A rock sinks.  A bowling ball sinks.  

Some things can be heavy.  Heavy means it weighs a lot.  A bowling ball is heavy, a car is very heavy.  A boat is heavy.

Things can be light.  Light means they do not weigh a lot.  A feather, a piece of paper, and a balloon are light. 

Things can been light or heavy, big or small, hard or soft.  These are called properties.  Properties are characteristics.  

Characteristics are qualities of something.  Heavy and light, soft and hard, float and sink, and colors are all characteristics.