Curated OER
Cool and Not-So-Cool Materials
Why do some materials feel cool to the touch, but not others? Learn about thermal conductors and thermal insulators with a fun science experiment. First, kids read the results of an experiment with spoons and hot water. They then try...
Curated OER
Bendable Things
What kinds of cups can bend? Kindergartners find out with a straightforward science inquiry, designed to teach them about the properties of materials. They hypothesize about the flexibility of a china cup, a plastic cup, and a paper cup....
Curated OER
Properties of Materials (with adjectives)
Help your students write descriptive lab reports! Designed for ESL students but useful for mainstreamed kids as well, the activity prompts students to think of substances that match twenty given adjectives ("salt" for "soluble," for...
Curated OER
Sorting and Using Materials
Students explore materials and their properties. In this matter instructional activity, students identify objects and describe their properties. Students test and sort materials using an interactive whiteboard, followed by a group...
Curated OER
Introduction to Materials: Properties of Materials
Students explore the properties of matter. For this properties of materials lesson, students examine wood, metal, rubber, Styrofoam, and plastic. Students identify the attributes of each of the materials.
Curated OER
Science – Using Materials: Different Materials
In this materials and properties activity, students examine the names of 15 objects. Students identify the material each of the objects is made of their properties. An answer bank in included.
Curated OER
Properties of Materials
In this material properties worksheet, students complete 6 activities in which they learn about and explore the differences between materials and properties. They collect objects and list off the materials and properties, answer...
Curated OER
Properties of Materials- Leaky Pipe
Pupils are presented with a problem of an industrial site is losing water through a pipe leakage. They need to find an appropriate material to seal the joints. Working in groups, they analyze the situation, collect additional...
PBS
Pbs: Nova: Making Stuff: Stronger
The first in a four-part PBS series, hour-long video defines "strength" of materials, with examples ranging from steel cables to mollusk shells. Insight from research and experts offers a look into the process of "re-engineering"...
TryEngineering
Try Engineering: Can You Canoe?
Teams of students learn about the engineering design process as they design, build, and test a model canoe made with everyday materials. Lesson focuses on how materials engineering has impacted the manufacturing of canoes over time.
TryEngineering
Try Engineering: Pendulum Time
Working in teams, students build their own pendulum clock using everyday materials. They conduct research, design, build, test it, and share observations with the class, while learning how pendulums operate and have been used to measure...
Other
Case Western Reserve University: Introduction to Materials Engineering
A curriculum resource from an introduction to materials course taught at Case Western Reserve University. Includes teaching overheads, homework assignments, and exams.
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: Materials and Minerals
Seven hands-on lessons module that allows students to learn about materials and minerals. These inquiry-based explorations investigate properties of materials, where mineral deposits can be found, how deposits are formed, how minerals...
American Chemical Society
American Chemical Society: Science for Kids: Characteristics of Materials
Engaging hands-on science lessons for grades 2-6 on the properties of different materials.
NASA
Nasa: Light but Strong
Use these lessons from NASA to teach multiple Next Generation Science Standards for grades K-5. Properties of matter and engineering design are the focus of these lessons. Detailed plans and student handouts are included. [PDF]
Concord Consortium
Concord Consortium: Stem Resources: Buildings and Earthquakes
Do you think you can build a house that can withstand the shaking from an earthquake? In this activity, students design and construct model building that will be tested on a shake table with a force sensor. Activity includes questions...
E-learning for Kids
E Learning for Kids: Science: Scotland Kilt Store: Classify by Property
Mr. Wallace owns a store and needs help sorting items in his shop. Help him explore properties of common objects.
TryEngineering
Try Engineering: Temperature Tactics
Learners practice the engineering design process as they explore devices used to measure changes in temperature. They work in teams to design, build, test, and evaluate their own temperature gauge made from everyday materials.
TryEngineering
Try Engineering: Pollution Patrol
Students will work in teams to design and construct outdoor air pollution detectors from everyday items. They will then test the designs for presence of pollutants in the air and communicate their results to the class.
TryEngineering
Try Engineering: Solar Structures
During this lesson, students will construct a passive solar house from everyday items then explore how the sun's energy is used to heat and cool it.
TryEngineering
Try Engineering: Spring Scale Engineering
Learners learn about the engineering design process as they design, build, and test a spring scale using everyday items that can measure the weight of an apple. The objective of the lesson is to explore how scales work and to learn about...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Materials Science Project Ideas
A list of projects ideas through which students test materials for various qualities, such as strength, flammability, density, and resistance to corrosion.
TryEngineering
Try Engineering: Can You Copperplate?
Chemical engineering lesson investigates the processes of chemical plating and electroplating. Teams of students work together to devise a chemical system for plating metal objects with copper, then test and evaluate their findings and...
TryEngineering
Try Engineering: Radio Reception and Transmission
Teams of young scholars learn about the engineering design process as they design, build, and test a radio receiver and optional transmitter that can receive FM broadcasts. Lesson focuses on how advances in radio communications have...