SCIENCE LAB
TEACHER CARD
TITLE (Activity): INVESTIGATING THE PROPERTIES OF MATERIALS (not really an experiment)
SUBJECT (In the curriculum): Matter and material: properties
LEVEL/S: 3rd cycle
MATERIALS:
- Different objects made of different materials: porcelain plates, bottle corks, plastic objects
like rulers, chalk, wooden spoons, copper wire and other metallic wires, steel spoon, glass
jars, elastic rubbers, plasticine …
- A hammer (for the toughness).
- A battery, cables and a small light bulb (for the conductivity).
- Big metallic nail (for the hardness table).
PROCEDURE (How to do it): We are going to study the following properties: ductility, elasticity, hardness,
conductivity (heat and electric), toughness and plasticity.
- Divide the classroom tables into 6 groups, one for each property.
- Divide the children into 6 groups also.
- Place the information and materials on each of the tables, for the children to investigate.
- Give them a worksheet to record what they find out.
- Give them some time to be at each of the tables, then make them rotate so as to go through
all of them.
WHAT DO WE WANT TO PROVE:
This is not really an experiment, it’s an INVESTIGATION on the different properties of matter. We want the
children to understand the meaning of each one of the properties, and we want to help them in their
study.
IDEAS TO EXPLAIN IT IN CLASS: Important: Don’t let them use the hammer on the different materials! Just
imagine what would happen if we hit the objects with the hammer.
CURIOSITIES:
The difference between toughness and hardness is difficult for the children to understand. Using some
materials like porcelain or glass, that are hard (they resist scratches) but fragile (they break easily) can help
them.
RELATION WITH THE REAL LIFE:
EVALUATION: the table: properties of materials
SCIENCE LAB
PUPILS CARD
TITLE (Activity):
NAME:
CLASS:
DATE:
HYPOTHESIS:
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MATERIALS:
ADVICE:
PROCEDURE (How to do it):
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CONCLUSIONS:
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PROPERTIES of materials
HARDNESS
TOUGHNESS
ELASTICITY PLASTICITY
DUCTILITY
Hard soft
Tough fragile
elastic
ductile
plastic
CONDUCTIVITY
(HEAT AND
ELETRICITY)
Condu insulat
ctor
or
IRON
PORCELAIN
PLASTIC
RUBBER
GLASS
STEEL
CHALK
…….