Classwork #1 Properties of Materials
Name: __________________________
2nd Grade PSI Science
Properties of Materials Investigation
Choose five objects in your classroom. Fill out the
chart below to describe the material in the object.
Item
Ex:
pencil
Color
yellow
Texture
smooth
Size
long
Shape
cylinder
Other
Property
hard
How do properties help you to identify objects?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
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2nd Grade PSI
Matter and its Interactions
Homework #1 Properties of Materials
Name: __________________________
2nd Grade PSI Science
Matter is all around you—your clothes, toys, and
even your lunch is made of matter. Matter is
anything that takes up space and has mass. Mass is
how much matter an object contains. Material is
anything used to make things.
You can identify a material by its properties.
You observe properties with your senses and by
measuring for length, height, weight and mass.
Some properties include color, shape, size and
texture. Texture describes how something feels.
1. Anything that takes up space and has mass is
___________________
2. Soft, rough, and bumpy describe the
_________________of an object.
3. Your senses help you describe the
___________________of matter.
4. How much matter inside an object is its
___________________.
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2nd Grade PSI
Matter and its Interactions
5. Look at the images below. Write three words
describing the properties of each one.
A carrot
A baseball bat
A key
a.___________
a.__________
a.__________
b.___________
b.__________
b.__________
c.___________
c.__________
c.__________
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2nd Grade PSI
Matter and its Interactions
Classwork #2 Properties of Materials
Name: __________________________
2nd Grade PSI Science
What Am I?
Use the clues to find the classroom object being
described by its properties.
I am white.
I am sticky when wet.
I am strong when dry.
You use me to hold
materials together.
I am a cylinder.
I am not flexible.
I can float.
You can write with me
as long as I am sharp.
I am
_________________
I am
________________
I am thin and flexible.
I can be any color.
I am not waterproof.
You can write or color
on me.
I am made of fabric.
I am flexible and
strong.
I can be any color.
You carry your books
inside me.
I am
_________________
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I am
__________________
__
2nd Grade PSI
Matter and its Interactions
Write an Object Riddle of your own. Include at least
three properties to describe the item. Write the
answer to the riddle on the back of your paper.
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
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2nd Grade PSI
Matter and its Interactions
Homework #2 Properties of Materials
Name: __________________________
2nd Grade PSI Science
Flexible
Strong
Hard
Go on a scavenger hunt at home. Find an example
of something that is flexible, strong, and hard.
Create a flap book by cutting out the square. Fold on
the solid line. Cut on the dotted line. Write the name
of the object behind each flap. Draw a picture below
the name.
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2nd Grade PSI
Matter and its Interactions
Classwork #3 Properties of Materials
Name: __________________________
2nd Grade PSI Science
Different materials are used for different
purposes based on their properties. Wood, metal,
glass, plastic, and fabric are common materials used
to make many different objects.
Wood comes from trees. It is strong and hard. It
is light and floats on water. Wood can be cut and
easily shaped. Wood is used to build homes and
furniture.
Metal is found in the ground and is often mixed
from rocks. It is strong, hard and shiny. Metal can be
hammered into different shapes. Metal is used for
pots, cars, and coins.
Glass is made by melting sand. Glass is
waterproof and transparent. Transparent means it
allows light to pass through. Thick glass is strong but
thin glass can shatter. Glass is used for windows,
bottles, and eyeglasses.
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2nd Grade PSI
Matter and its Interactions
Plastic is made from oil and chemicals. It is
strong and waterproof. When heated, plastic can be
made into many shapes. Plastic is used for toys,
bags, and bottles. Plastics last for a long time so
they need to be recycled.
Fabrics are made by weaving cotton, silk, or
wool together. Fabrics can be stretchy, insulating
(keep you warm) or absorbent (soak up liquid).
Fabrics are used to make clothing, blankets, and
covers for furniture.
Look around the classroom and find two objects
made from each material.
Material
wood
metal
glass
plastic
fabric
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Object
1.
1.
1.
1.
1.
Object
2.
2.
2.
2.
2.
2nd Grade PSI
Matter and its Interactions
Homework #3 Properties of Materials
Name: __________________________
2nd Grade PSI Science
Directions:
Cut out the objects below. Sort them into material
groups. Glue into place. Draw an object made from
the same material in each empty box.
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2nd Grade PSI
Matter and its Interactions
Wood
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Plastic
Glass
2nd Grade PSI
Metal
Matter and its Interactions
Classwork #4 Properties of Materials
Name: __________________________
2nd Grade PSI Science
It is important to study materials to find out about
their properties. Understanding the properties of
materials helps you to select the right material for
the job. Read each problem below and fill in the
circle next to the best material test.
1. A hat maker wants to design a waterproof hat for
children. What test should he conduct on the
material?
o Scratch the material to see if it leaves a
mark.
o Bend the material to see if it is flexible.
o Drip water on the material to see if it is
repelled.
2. A toy maker wants to design a magnetic
checkers game. What test should she conduct
on the material for the game?
o Drop a heavy weight on the material to see if
it is damaged.
o Hold a magnet to the material to see if it is
attracted to the magnet.
o Pull the material to see if it stretches.
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2nd Grade PSI
Matter and its Interactions
3. A diaper maker wants to design a diaper for
babies. What test should they conduct on the
diaper material?
o Drip water on the material to see if it is
quickly absorbed.
o Drop a heavy weight on the material to see if
it is damaged.
o Drop the material from 6 feet to see if it
bounces.
4. You want to design a new backpack. Write two
properties the bag should have. Explain how you
could test the material for those properties.
Property #1: ___________________________
Test:
______________________________________
______________________________________
Property #2: ____________________________
Test:
______________________________________
______________________________________
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2nd Grade PSI
Matter and its Interactions
Homework #4 Properties of Materials
Name: __________________________
2nd Grade PSI Science
Look around your home for the following items:
 Fork
 Toilet paper
 Sock
 Cup
Test each material and complete the table. Write yes
or no in each box.
 Flexible: Can you bend it?
 Durable: Can you break it?
 Elastic: Can you stretch it?
 Transparent: Can you see through it?
Flexible
Durable
Elastic
Transparent
Fork
Toilet
paper
Sock
Cup
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2nd Grade PSI
Matter and its Interactions
Classwork #5 Properties of Materials
Name: __________________________
2nd Grade PSI Science
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king’s horses and all the king’s men
Couldn’t put Humpty together again.
Use what you have learned about materials to
design a case to protect him from hurting himself
when he falls off the wall. Create a list of materials
and give a reason for using each item. Draw a
picture of your design.
Item
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Reason for selecting this material
2nd Grade PSI
Matter and its Interactions
Homework #5 Properties of Materials
Name: __________________________
2nd Grade PSI Science
Help Cinderella
What was the Fairy Godmother thinking? She
made Cinderella’s high heels out of glass! Glass is
made from sand heated to a very high temperature.
It is very useful in making windows, jars, light bulbs
and eyeglass lenses. Do you think glass is a good
material for making shoes?
1. What are two more properties of glass?
______________________________________
2. Explain why these properties make glass a good
or poor choice for shoes.
______________________________________
______________________________________
3. What material would be a better choice for
Cinderella’s high heels? Explain.
______________________________________
4. Why is it important to know a materials property
when building something?
______________________________________
______________________________________
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2nd Grade PSI
Matter and its Interactions
Classwork #6 Properties of Materials
Name: __________________________
2nd Grade PSI Science
Matter is all around you. It takes up
space and has mass. Matter has
three different forms. It can be a
solid, liquid, or a gas. This picture
shows all three forms of matter.
Can you identify them?
Solids:
The soda can and the glass are solids. They have a
definite shape and take up a certain amount of
space. These properties do not change unless you
cut, bend or break the object.
Liquids:
The soda is a liquid. It takes up a certain amount of
space, but it does not have a certain shape. The
shape changes when it is poured into a different
container.
Gases:
The bubbles in the soda made by gas. Gas does not
have a certain shape. Gas does not take up a
certain amount of space. It fills the all the space in a
container. Gas is usually invisible.
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2nd Grade PSI
Matter and its Interactions
Look at the bowl of soup. Can you identify the three
states of matter?
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2nd Grade PSI
Matter and its Interactions
Homework #6 Properties of Materials
Name: __________________________
2nd Grade PSI Science
Sort the words in the word bank into the chart.
steam
pencil
ice
milk
water
smoke
rock
oxygen
soup
Label each of the following as being a property of a
Solid
Liquid
Gas
solid, liquid or gas.
1. __________ It is hard to see.
2. __________ It has its own shape.
3. __________ It can be poured.
4.
__________ It fills your lungs.
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2nd Grade PSI
Matter and its Interactions
Classwork #7 Properties of Materials
Name: __________________________
2nd Grade PSI Science
Matter can change from one state to another by
adding or removing heat. Liquids can change to a
solid by decreasing the temperature. This is called
freezing. Solids can change to liquids by increasing
the temperature. This is called melting. Liquids can
change to a gas by increasing the temperature. This
is called boiling.
Each picture is undergoing a temperature change.
Color the arrow blue if the change was caused by
removing heat. Color the arrow red if the change
was caused by adding heat.
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2nd Grade PSI
Matter and its Interactions
Homework #7 Properties of Materials
Name: __________________________
2nd Grade PSI Science
Read each story and answer each question that
follows in a complete sentence.
1. It was a hot, summer day. Ricky was going to
the beach with his family. He brought a box of
crayons to color in his coloring book. Ricky left
the crayons on his towel in the blazing sun.
When he went to color, all of Ricky’s crayons
had melted into a liquid rainbow.
What caused Ricky’s crayons to change from a
solid to a liquid?
______________________________________
______________________________________
2. Tara needed a hot shower after her soccer
practice. When she got out, she noticed steam
had filled the room. Tara could not see herself in
the mirror because it was covered in steam.
What caused the liquid water to turn to a gas?
______________________________________
______________________________________
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2nd Grade PSI
Matter and its Interactions
Classwork #8 Properties of Materials
Name: __________________________
2nd Grade PSI Science
Matter can change from one state to another. Some
of these changes are reversible (able to be undone).
Other changes are irreversible (not able to be
undone).
Look at each set of pictures. Circle the word that
best describes the change. If it is reversible, explain
how to change the matter back to its first state.
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reversible
irreversible
reversible
irreversible
reversible
irreversible
reversible
irreversible
reversible
irreversible
2nd Grade PSI
Matter and its Interactions
Homework #8 Properties of Materials
Name: __________________________
2nd Grade PSI Science
Matter can be changed. One change is
reversible (able to be undone). Reversible changes
include melting and freezing. Another change is
irreversible (unable to be undone). Irreversible
changes include burning and rusting.
A reversible change may change how the object
looks or feels. The object however does not change.
For example, freezing water to make ice cubes
changes the state of matter. The water changed
from a liquid to a solid. It did not change into a new
substance. It is still water.
An irreversible change cannot be undone. It is a
permanent change. A new material always forms as
a result of an irreversible change. For example,
making pancakes changes the batter into something
new. A pancake cannot be uncooked to turn it back
to a liquid batter.
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2nd Grade PSI
Matter and its Interactions
1. The prefixes /un/ and /ir/ mean not or opposite of.
Circle two words above that have these prefixes.
Write the meaning of the words.
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
2. Circle the word permanent. What does this word
mean in the sentence?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
3. How are reversible and irreversible changes alike?
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
4. How are reversible and irreversible changes
different?
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
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2nd Grade PSI
Matter and its Interactions
ANSWER KEY
Classwork #1
Answers will vary.
Classwork #6
 Solid: Bowl/spoon
 Liquid: soup
 Gas: Steam
Homework #1
1. matter
2. texture
3. properties
4. mass
5. Answers will vary.
Homework #6
 Solids: ice, rock, pencil
 Liquids: water, milk, soup
 Gas: steam, oxygen, smoke
1. Gas
2. Solid
3. Liquid
4. Gas
Classwork #2
1. glue
2. pencil
3. paper
4. backpack
5. Answers will vary.
Classwork #7
1. Red
2. Blue
3. Red
4. Red
5. Blue
Homework #2
Answers will vary.
Classwork #3
Answers will vary.
Homework #7
1. The sun caused the crayons to
melt.
2. The water was hot so it turned to
a gas.
Homework #3
 Wood: table, clothespins,
doghouse
 Plastic: umbrella, ball, cube
 Glass: glass, cylinder, lenses
 Metal: nail, iron, lock
Classwork #8
1. Irreversible
2. Irreversible
3. Reversible
4. Irreversible
5. Reversible
Classwork #4
1. Drip water
2. Magnet
3. Drip water
4. Answers will vary.
Homework #4
Discuss answers, as some of them may
vary.
Classwork #5
Answers will vary.
Homework #6
Answers will vary.
Homework #8
1. unable: not able, undone:
opposite of done, irreversible: not
reversible
2. Permanent means cannot be
undone.
3. Physical and chemical changes
are alike because they change
matter.
4. Reversible changes can be
undone and irreversible changes
cannot be undone
.
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2nd Grade PSI
Matter and its Interactions