Properties of Materials Unit Plan

 Overview

Objectives

• To explore the properties of materials and develop vocabulary to describe them.
• To identify the material objects are made of and to sort them in various ways.
• To develop an understanding of the suitability of certain materials for different purposes.
• To understand that some materials provide better shade than others.
• To understand that some materials are more water resistant than others.

Preparing for Learning

This Science unit provides excellent opportunities for cross-curricular integration. Look for ways to meaningfully integrate the content of the unit with other learning areas such as Reading and The Arts.

Prior to starting the unit, develop a classroom display that focuses on the properties of materials. Display word wall vocabulary and learning goals that the students will engage with throughout the unit to stimulate their learning. For examples of additional teaching resources to display in your classroom, browse the Material World  collection on the Teach Starter website.

Many of the resources that accompany this unit plan will need to be prepared prior to teaching. For this reason, it is advised that teachers browse through all lessons before starting the unit.

It is suggested that several weeks prior to starting this unit, a note is sent home to parents asking students to bring in recycled materials to be used throughout the unit. A large variety (and quantity) of resources will be needed for exploration and construction. This will take some time to collect and arrange, however, some of the resources can be re-used several times throughout the unit.