Starter quiz
- What is the word or phrase used to describe what a material can do or how it behaves?
- physical mass
- physical properties ✓
- physical weight
- physical size
-
- Match the material to the physical property.
- sandpaper⇔rough ✓
- ice⇔smooth ✓
- wool⇔soft ✓
- Which materials are not magnetic?
- all non-metals and some metals ✓
- some non-metals and some metals
- all metals
-
- What is the name for materials which do not allow electricity to pass through them easily?
- electrical conductors
- electrical materials
- electrial insulators ✓
- electrical wires
-
- What is the name for materials which do not allow sound to pass through them easily?
- sound insulators ✓
- sound conductors
- sound keepers
- sound blockers
-
- If you were choosing materials to build a bridge, which of these would be useful to base your choice on?
- the materials' names
- the materials’ physical properties ✓
- the materials’ colour
- the materials’ size
-
Exit quiz
- Different materials often have ______ physical properties.
- 'different' ✓
- A thermal insulator is a material that …
- allows heat to pass through easily.
- does not allow any heat to pass through.
- does not allow heat to pass through easily. ✓
-
- What type of enquiry is used when the variable that is being changed has names or labels, e.g. types of materials?
- research using secondary sources
- fair test
- comparative test ✓
- identifying and classifying
-
- What makes a material suitable or unsuitable for thermal insulation?
- its cost
- its colour
- its properties ✓
- its name
-
- Match the physical property to the expected observation.
- cup made from a good thermal insulator⇔hot drinks cool down slowly ✓
- cup made from a poor thermal insulator⇔hot drinks cool down quickly ✓
- What does it mean to control variables in an investigation?
- change the variables
- keep variables the same ✓
- know how many variables there are
-
Worksheet
Presentation
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Different materials have different physical properties.
- A thermal insulator is a material that does not allow heat to pass through easily.
- Different materials can be suitable or unsuitable for thermal insulation depending on their properties.
- In a comparative test, the variable that is being changed has names or labels, such as the names of plants.
- When we control variables, it means we keep them the same throughout an investigation.
Common misconception
Children may think that thermal insulators only keep things warm.
Task A specifically addresses this misconception. Children will have opportunities to investigate which cup has the best thermal insulation properties for keeping drinks cold in lesson 5 of this unit.
Keywords
Material - A material is the substance that objects are made from such as wood, metal or plastic.
Physical properties - The physical properties of a material are the features that can be observed or measured.
Thermal insulator - A thermal insulator is a material that does not allow heat to pass through it easily.
Comparative test - In a comparative test, the variable that is being changed has names or labels, such as the names of plants.
Variables - A variable is something that can be changed, measured or kept the same in an investigation.