Properties and Uses of Materials
Rationale
Through a deeper understanding of chemistry, we are better able to appreciate the complexity and beauty of the world around us.
Investigation Into
- Physical properties of materials.
- The property of absorbency across a range of materials.
- Selecting materials for a purpose.
- Designing and building a device for a purpose.
Essential Questions
- What are the physical properties of materials?
- How do the properties of materials influence their use?
- How do designers create products for a purpose?
- What is a fair test?
Future Action
Your students will develop a curiosity about the building blocks of nature. They will be able to identify the properties of materials uses in everyday objects and participate in discussions about choices that were made in designing these objects. Your students will describe opposite properties of materials and how a property can be tested across a range of materials.
Pretesting and Familiarisation
Chemistry Pretest
Your students will complete a pretest about materials and their properties.
Your students will complete a pretest about materials and their properties.
Chemistry Glossary
Your students are going to become familiar with words that they will use during this learning sequence.
Your students are going to become familiar with words that they will use during this learning sequence.
Learning Opportunities
Nonsense Object Creative Writing
Your students will use their understanding of materials and their properties to write a narrative.
Your students will use their understanding of materials and their properties to write a narrative.
Creating a Board Game
Your students will participate in a properties scavenger hunt and they will design a board game using the properties of different objects.
Your students will participate in a properties scavenger hunt and they will design a board game using the properties of different objects.
Investigating Absorbency
Your students will test a range of materials to observe their absorbency.
Your students will test a range of materials to observe their absorbency.
Design a Mop
Your students will use their understanding of materials and their properties to design a mop.
Your students will use their understanding of materials and their properties to design a mop.
Egg Drop Challenge: Designing Our Device
Your students will use their understanding of materials and their properties to design a device that will protect an egg from a fall.
Your students will use their understanding of materials and their properties to design a device that will protect an egg from a fall.
Egg Drop Challenge: Building Our Device
Your students will use their Egg Drop Device Design to build their Egg Drop Device.
Your students will use their Egg Drop Device Design to build their Egg Drop Device.
Egg Drop Challenge: Testing and Evaluating
Your students will share, test and evaluate the success of their Egg Drop Device.
Your students will share, test and evaluate the success of their Egg Drop Device.
Demonstration of Understanding
Developing My Presentation
Your students will select a performance of understanding and develop a presentation to show what they have learnt during this learning sequence.
Your students will select a performance of understanding and develop a presentation to show what they have learnt during this learning sequence.