ACS: Inquiry in Action - Properties of Materials (Lesson 1.2): Testing Materials to Learn About Their Properties
Students conduct a series of tests on different materials to learn about their properties to investigate the question: What are some of the characteristic properties of paper, plastic, and aluminum foil?
Objective
Students will develop an understanding that objects and materials can be tested to learn about their properties. Students will help plan and conduct different tests on the materials. Students will be able to explain that when testing materials to learn about their properties, all the materials need to be tested in the same way.
Key Concepts
- Objects and materials have different characteristics or properties.
- Testing materials can help identify their properties.
- To compare their properties, different materials need to be tested in the same way.
NGSS Alignment
- NGSS 2-PS1-1: Plan and conduct an investigation to describe and classify different kinds of materials by their observable properties.
Summary
- Students test a piece of aluminum foil, plastic from a zip-closing plastic bag, and copier paper to learn about some of their properties.
- Students conduct tests on the materials and then help design a strength test. The point is stressed that for a good, fair test each material needs to be tested in the same way.
- A simulation is shown that emphasizes the point that the different properties of materials are good for different uses.
Note: This lesson may work best if done over two days.
Evaluation
Download the Student Activity Sheet (PDF) and distribute one per student when specified in the activity. The activity sheet will serve as the Evaluate component of the 5-E lesson plan.
Back to Properties of Materials
Guided instructions, lesson plans, classroom activities, video demonstrations, and activity books.
Students plan and conduct an absorbency test on paper, plastic, aluminum foil, and felt to investigate the question: Which material absorbs water and why?
Students sort common objects according to characteristics such as shape, flexibility, and the material they are made from to investigate the question: Can you group objects based on their characteristics?
Students use what they’ve learned about the properties of paper, plastic, and aluminum foil to investigate the question: Which materials are best for making a boat that can hold the most pennies before sinking?
Students develop a test to compare the dissolving of an M&M and a Skittle in water to investigate the question: Do M&Ms and Skittles dissolve by the same amount?
Students place small common objects made from wax, wood, metal, and rubber in water to investigate the question: Do certain materials tend to float or sink in water?
Students warm butter until it melts and then cool it until it turns hard again as they investigate the question: How do substances change when they are warmed and cooled?
Students do simple tests to observe the properties of water, mineral oil, and corn syrup on the surface of a zip-closing plastic bag to investigate the question: Can liquids that look similar have different properties?
Students design and conduct an experiment to see if baking powder causes more bubbling in warm or cold water to investigate the question: Does baking powder produce more bubbles when it is heated or cooled?
After an introduction of Snap Cubes as models atoms and molecules, students use Snap Cubes to investigate the question: How can Snap Cubes be used to make models of different molecules?
Student groups use four or five Snap Cubes to make as many different objects as possible to investigate the question: How many different objects can be made by rearranging four cubes?
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Students conduct a series of tests on different materials to learn about their properties to investigate the question: What are some of the characteristic properties of paper, plastic, and aluminum foil?
Objective
Students will develop an understanding that objects and materials can be tested to learn about their properties. Students will help plan and conduct different tests on the materials. Students will be able to explain that when testing materials to learn about their properties, all the materials need to be tested in the same way.
Key Concepts
- Objects and materials have different characteristics or properties.
- Testing materials can help identify their properties.
- To compare their properties, different materials need to be tested in the same way.
NGSS Alignment
- NGSS 2-PS1-1: Plan and conduct an investigation to describe and classify different kinds of materials by their observable properties.
Summary
- Students test a piece of aluminum foil, plastic from a zip-closing plastic bag, and copier paper to learn about some of their properties.
- Students conduct tests on the materials and then help design a strength test. The point is stressed that for a good, fair test each material needs to be tested in the same way.
- A simulation is shown that emphasizes the point that the different properties of materials are good for different uses.
Note: This lesson may work best if done over two days.
Evaluation
Download the Student Activity Sheet (PDF) and distribute one per student when specified in the activity. The activity sheet will serve as the Evaluate component of the 5-E lesson plan.
Back to Properties of Materials
Guided instructions, lesson plans, classroom activities, video demonstrations, and activity books.
Students plan and conduct an absorbency test on paper, plastic, aluminum foil, and felt to investigate the question: Which material absorbs water and why?
Students sort common objects according to characteristics such as shape, flexibility, and the material they are made from to investigate the question: Can you group objects based on their characteristics?
Students use what they’ve learned about the properties of paper, plastic, and aluminum foil to investigate the question: Which materials are best for making a boat that can hold the most pennies before sinking?
Students develop a test to compare the dissolving of an M&M and a Skittle in water to investigate the question: Do M&Ms and Skittles dissolve by the same amount?
Students place small common objects made from wax, wood, metal, and rubber in water to investigate the question: Do certain materials tend to float or sink in water?
Students warm butter until it melts and then cool it until it turns hard again as they investigate the question: How do substances change when they are warmed and cooled?
Students do simple tests to observe the properties of water, mineral oil, and corn syrup on the surface of a zip-closing plastic bag to investigate the question: Can liquids that look similar have different properties?
Students design and conduct an experiment to see if baking powder causes more bubbling in warm or cold water to investigate the question: Does baking powder produce more bubbles when it is heated or cooled?
After an introduction of Snap Cubes as models atoms and molecules, students use Snap Cubes to investigate the question: How can Snap Cubes be used to make models of different molecules?
Student groups use four or five Snap Cubes to make as many different objects as possible to investigate the question: How many different objects can be made by rearranging four cubes?
What are you looking for?
Organization
Website URL
Type of Resource
PDF File
Video (Instructional)
