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Squash, bend, twist, stretch - Hamilton trust planning

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Squash, bend, twist, stretch - Hamilton trust planning

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You Will Need

Additional Resources

A variety of balls, preferably of fairly similar size, e.g. tennis, sponge, rubber, ping pong (try to avoid large balls like footballs and basketballs)

Tape measure

Large sheets of paper and pens

Squared paper and rulers

Planning and Activities

Teaching

Explore the properties of a variety of balls.

Generate questions and discuss the similarities and differences between the balls.

Discuss and design an investigation to test which ball is the bounciest.

Make predictions, test, and record results.

Learn about what makes a material have bouncy properties.

Activities

1. Explore the properties of a variety of balls and predict which is the bounciest.

2. Consider that the materials from which the balls are made may have an effect on their bounciness.

3. Consider: what does 'bounciest' mean? Is it the ball that bounces the highest or for the longest time?

4. Discuss and design an investigation to test which ball is the bounciest.

Investigation - exploring, pattern seeking
Explore the properties of a variety of balls in the playground.
Discuss and design an investigation to test which ball is the bounciest.

Vocabulary
Shape, changed, twist/twisting, squash/squashing, bend/bending, stretch/stretching, material, properties

You Will Need

Additional Resources

Testing stretchy materials resource

A variety of materials (cloth) of different stretchiness (e.g. cotton, wool, nylon)

Tape measure or ruler

Small plastic bags

Marbles

Thin elastic bands

Planning and Activities

Teaching

Examine fabrics and discuss the requirements of some clothes.

Talk about how to test fabric's elasticity properties and make predictions.

Consider these questions: What length is the fabric at the start? To what length does it need to stretch? What length does it return to?

Activities

1. Look at a selection of fabric and understand why stretchy fabric is sometimes used in clothing.

2. Investigate and explore the elasticity of fabric and make predictions.

3. Begin to understand how to make a test fair and to record results in a bar chart.

Investigation - exploring, pattern seeking, problem solving
Talk about how to test fabric's elasticity properties, make predictions and devise an investigation based on attaching weights to the ends of strips of fabric.

Vocabulary
Shape, changed, twist/twisting, squash/squashing, bend/bending, stretch/stretching, material, properties

You Will Need

Provided Resources
Images of bridges and vocabulary cards from resource
Additional Resources

A selection of materials for each group, including lengths of wood, metal, plastic, card (Make them similar lengths: you could use plastic, metal and wooden rulers)

Small weights (100g)

Tape

String

Planning and Activities

Teaching

Understand that some materials need to be able to 'give' a little and not break (for bridges carrying heavy traffic, for example).

Look at a selection of materials and discuss how they might be tested for their rigidity.

Devise an investigation to test the flexibility of materials (by hanging weights from string onto the end of each strip of material).

Make predictions and carry out the investigation, recording the results.

Activities

1. Understand that some materials need to be able to 'give' a little and not break (for bridges carrying heavy traffic, for example).

2. Explore a selection of materials and discuss how they might be tested for their rigidity (identical lengths of wood, plastic, metal, card).

3. Devise and carry out an investigation to test how much they will bend and discuss the results.

Investigation - exploring over time, pattern seeking, problem solving
Devise an investigation to test how much they will bend by hanging weights from string onto the end of each strip of material.

Vocabulary
Squash/squashing, bend/bending, stretch/stretching, material, properties, strong, weak, rigid, flexible

You Will Need

Provided Resources
Flexible objects resource
Additional Resources

A variety of objects with different material properties

A range of objects with the same material properties

Hoops

Labels on card

A selection of old clothes (sock, jeans, thin vest, overalls, sweatshirt)

Coarse grain sand paper

Wood block

Planning and Activities

Teaching

Identify and discuss the materials/properties of objects and sort them according to criteria.

Test materials for their durability and toughness and consider the usefulness of materials for our everyday lives.

Consider the question: if everything I touched became flexible, how would my life be different? Tell stories to each other about an average day in a world where nothing was rigid.

Activities

1. Identify and sort objects with different material properties.

2. Test fabrics for their durability and toughness and consider the everyday usefulness of materials.

3. Consider the importance of material properties by wondering what life would be like without it.

Investigation - sorting, classifying and identifying
Sort objects in the classroom according to these criteria: flexible, rigid, hard, soft, stretchy, stiff.

Vocabulary
Flexible, rigid, hard, soft, stretchy, stiff, strong, weak, rigid, flexible, material, properties

You Will Need

Provided Resources

What's my Material? cards

'The paper I have chosen' sheet

Additional Resources

A selection of different sorts of paper (sugar paper, backing paper, wrapping paper, printer paper, tracing paper, tissue paper)

Scissors

Hole punch

Paper clip

100g weights

Freezer bags

Planning and Activities

Teaching

Be challenged to find the strongest paper to wrap a present.

Understand that paper varies in strength and think of a way to test the strength of different papers.

Plan, make predictions, and carry out an investigation.

Activities

1. Investigate paper strength, working in groups and recording their findings.

2. Predict the outcome of the investigation and produce a simple bar chart or annotated drawings of the results.

Investigation - fair testing, problem solving
Be challenged to find the strongest paper to wrap a present. Collect sheets of different types of paper and make them the same size. Make a hole in each sheet and hang a weight from it, adding weights until the paper tears. Record the results.

Vocabulary
Strong, tear, rip, weight, grams, bar chart, results, material, properties

Planning and Activities

Teaching

Revise learning about materials and their properties.

Work in small groups to design and make a paper bridge to hold a toy car.

Explain selections and predictions for the success of their bridge.

Consider the question: what happens if the paper is folded into a concertina shape?

Activities

1. Articulate their learning about materials and their properties.

2. Work in small groups to design and make a paper bridge to hold a toy car, selecting the paper they think will work best.

3. Explain their selections and predictions for the success of their bridge.

Investigation - problem solving
Work in small groups to design and make a paper bridge to hold a toy car, selecting the paper they think will work best.

Vocabulary
Strong, tear, rip, weight, rigidity, flexibility, concertina, material, properties

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Explore a range of materials through investigations and explorations in this Year 1 Science Block. Work on ways to test materials for elasticity and flexibility and find out which paper is the strongest. Work in small groups to design and make a paper bridge to hold a toy car.

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Outstanding science  - everyday materials

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Outstanding science  - everyday materials

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This series of activities aimed at Year 2 explore a range of everyday materials through investigations and explorations. They include: ways to test materials for elasticity and flexibility and find out which paper is the strongest and which fabric is the stretchiest. Children also work in small groups to design and make a paper bridge to hold a toy car. Activities include:

Which ball is the bounciest?

Which fabric is the stretchiest?

Testing rigidity

Tough and flexible

Which is the strongest paper?

Paper bridges

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This series of activities aimed at Year 2 explore a range of everyday materials through investigations and explorations. They include: ways to test materials for elasticity and flexibility and find out which paper is the strongest and which fabric is the stretchiest.

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Video Clip

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BBC Bitesize - KS2 Design and Technology - Materials and their uses (clip compilation)

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Metals, wood and plastic are shown in different forms and uses for each are highlighted.

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Template to make booklet

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Everyday materials - KS1 Science - BBC Bitesize

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KS1 Science Everyday materials learning resources for adults, children, parents and teachers.

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Materials Matter - Hamilton trust planning

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Materials Matter - Hamilton trust planning

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You Will Need

Provided Resources

'Some Ways of Testing Absorbency' sheet

Investigation recording sheets

Additional Resources

Different sorts of paper towels and disposable cloths (kitchen paper, different brands of paper towels, school paper towels, squares of paper, etc)

Pipettes or syringes

Beakers of water

Tape

Timers

Planning and Activities

Teaching

Explore the properties of different kitchen paper and disposable cloths.

Make predictions about which would be best at mopping up a spillage of water.

Investigate which papers are the most absorbent by choosing a method and working in a group.

Understand the different reasons why people may need to use absorbent materials.

Activities

1. Create hypotheses and make predictions about the absorbency of different kitchen paper and disposable cloths.

2. Investigate which papers are the most absorbent by choosing a method and working in a group.

Investigation
Consider the questions: are all makes of paper as good as each other? Or are some better than others?

Investigate which papers are the most absorbent by laying thin strips of equal length of different materials (including a waterproof strip) in a shallow tray and pouring coloured water onto the edge of the strips.

Vocabulary
Material, properties, absorbency, waterproof, strong, weak, hypothesis

You Will Need

Provided Resources
Hypothesis Thinking Sheet
Additional Resources

A variety of hard materials (different type of wood, including balsa wood, brick, plastics, plaster, clay, metals)

Shallow bowls of water

Timer

Planning and Activities

Teaching

Consider what buildings are made of and why. Generate questions about the absorbency of building materials.

Devise an investigation to test a variety of materials for their absorbent property.

Make predictions and to observe and record results.

Activities

1. Explore what buildings are made of and generate questions about the absorbency of building materials.

2. Consider and investigate the hypothesis "Hard materials cannot absorb water" and make predictions about different materials before testing them.

3. Make decisions about how to record the results of the investigation in a clear way for others to follow.

Investigation - observing over time, problem solving
Devise an investigation to test a variety of materials (plastics, metals, different types of wood and bricks) for their absorbent property.

Vocabulary
Material, properties, absorbency, waterproof, strong

Planning and Activities

Teaching

Discuss waterproof materials and their uses.

Investigate the absorbency of fabrics.

Consider the question: How can we make the fabric waterproof?

Discuss findings and suggest explanations.

Activities

1. Understand that, if a material does not absorb water, it is said to be waterproof.

2. Investigate the absorbency of fabrics and the effect of adding a layer of wax crayon.

3. Discuss the findings and consider the reasons for fabrics being waterproof.

Investigation - pattern seeking, problem solving
Investigate the absorbency of fabrics by stretching them over a jar to make them taut and using a dropper to drop water onto the cloth. Observe and measure the number of drops and the time they stay on the cloth before being absorbed.

Vocabulary
Material, properties, absorbency, waterproof, strong

Planning and Activities

Teaching

Discuss the difference between natural and manmade objects.

Explore the properties of a range of natural and manmade objects including observing any similarities and differences between the two groups.

Describe the textures and appearance of the different items.

Explore the texture and various properties by using them to print with paint.

Display the artwork represent materials and their properties.

Activities

1. Understand the difference between natural and manmade objects and sort into groups.

2. Describe the textures and appearance of the different items.

3. Explore the texture and various properties (absorbency, flexibility) by using them to print with paint.

Investigation - exploring
Explore the texture and various properties (absorbency, flexibility) by using them to print with paint onto squares of cloth or card.

Vocabulary
Material, properties, absorbency, waterproof, strong

You Will Need

Provided Resources
Examples of wax resist art
Additional Resources

Watercolour paint or thinned poster paint

Paint brushes

Pieces of card

Wax crayons

Oil pastels, or a stick of fabric wax

Squares of fabric

Vaseline

Tin foil

Planning and Activities

Teaching

Use wax drawing and colour washing as a reminder of the waterproof properties of wax.

Make a wax resist picture using wax crayons, oil pastels and paint.

Consider the questions: why is waterproof material sometimes used for making clothes? Can you think of other reasons why a material needs to be made waterproof?

Activities

1. Explore wax resist painting using oil pastels, wax crayons and paint.

2. Understand the role of wax and its waterproof properties in wax resist art.

Investigation - exploring
Make a batik wax resist piece of art by applying molten wax to a piece of cotton and dying it. Chop up old wax crayons and heat in moulds in the microwave/oven. Make new wax crayons in a different shape.

Vocabulary
Material, properties, absorbency, waterproof, strong, resist

You Will Need

Provided Resources
Particles Role Play and Melting and Remoulding Wax Crayons resource
Additional Resources

Old wax crayons

Plain paper and paper for writing on

Silicone moulds

Old mugs or jugs

Scissors

Knife

Microwave

Planning and Activities

Teaching

Learn about what happens when a material is heated up and why it changes shape.

Role-play what happens to the particles in a material when it is heated.

Investigate the changes to wax crayons caused by heat.

Activities

1. Understand what happens when a material is heated up and why it changes shape.

2. Discuss the importance of recycling materials.

3. Understand and experience recycling by remoulding wax crayons in new and different shapes.

Vocabulary
Material, properties, melting, particles, changing shape

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Explore the useful properties of materials with a range of investigations involving absorbency and flexibility in this Year 2 Science Block. Discover which type of kitchen towel or cloth is most effective at mopping up spills. Consider why building materials must be absorbent and which ones fit the bill.