1 - Getting Started ~4 mins
Look at a cotton sock and a plastic lunch box. Which one bends easily? Which one would you use to keep soup inside? Why do you think they are made of different materials?
2 - Properties We Can Compare ~4 mins
Today's words: property — what a material is like, such as bendy, see-through or strong. Compare — test the same thing on different materials and notice how they differ.
Think about the sock and the lunch box. Which one do you think would bend more if we tested them the same way?
3 - What Do We Think Will Happen? ~4 mins
We will test four materials: card, plastic, cotton and foil.
Say your prediction: which material will bend the most, and why?
4 - Test the Materials ~13 mins
In your group, test the four materials the way we showed.
- Bend (main test): Hold one end under a book at the desk edge so the same length sticks out each time. Measure how far the end hanging off the desk drops, in centimetres. Do the same for each material. If a strip hangs straight down, say it hangs fully or say the free length in centimetres.
- See-through (quick check): Hold each strip up to the light. Clear, a bit see-through, or not?
- Gentle pull (quick check): Pull opposite ends once, gently. Stretch, tear, or stay firm?
Jot your four bend numbers on the scrap note so your group keeps them. Be ready to share them for the class chart. Talk about what you notice.
5 - Rank the Materials ~3 mins
As a group, put the four materials in order from most bendy to least bendy. Be ready to share your top and bottom choice.
If there is time, your teacher will ask you to do a quick order for see-through, then for strength when pulled.
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