Property of Materials

In this lesson, students carry out an investigation to classify different objects based on the type of material they are made from, and then test specific properties of different materials to determine which materials have properties best suited for an intended purpose. 

• There are different kinds of materials, and each material can be described by its properties. Materials are kinds of matter that make up objects.  
• Objects are made up of materials. Because of this, objects have properties that are a result of the materials that make them up. Different objects can be made up of different materials, and can share some properties with other objects but have other properties that are different.
• There is a relationship between a material’s properties and the ways in which it can be used, which is one reason why it is important to understand how to evaluate a substance’s properties.

• Think about different objects that are made up of the same material. How are these objects similar? How are they different?
• Can different types of materials have similar properties?
• Why is it useful to have clothes and shoes that are flexible?
• How do the properties of the plastic spoon/paperclip make it useful for how it is used?
• How do the properties of a material make it suited for a specific purpose?

Absorbency : the ability of a solid material to soak up a liquid

Flexibility:  the ability of a solid material to bend easily without breaking

Gas: matter that has no shape and spreads out, completely filling its container

Hardness: the ability of a solid material to keep its shape when an outside force is applied

Liquid: matter that takes the shape of its container but has no shape of its own

Material:  any kind of matter that makes up objects

Matter: everything that is made up of atoms and takes up space; includes all of the solids, liquids, and gasses around us

Property: an observable or measurable characteristic of matter

Science: all knowledge learned from experiments

Solid: matter that holds its own shape until something changes it by force

Temperature:  a measure of heat

Texture: the way a material or object feels

In the hands-on activity of this lesson, students will conduct two investigations. In the first part, students investigate the question: “Can different types of materials have similar properties?” In the second part, students investigate the question: “How do the properties of a material make it suited for a specific purpose?” First, students carry out an investigation in which they sort objects into five different groups based on the type of material each is made from. Then, students collaboratively collect, record, and analyze data about the properties of each material listed, based on the results of their testing. Finally, students use the data they gathered about the specific properties of the different materials they tested to construct an explanation about which properties/materials would be best suited for specific purposes.