This 7-lesson unit covers all the Year 4 Chemical Sciences material for the Australian National Curriculum. Throughout the unit, students consider the choices that designers and engineers make and the physical properties of the materials that influence those choices.
The unit culminates in a STEAM activity where students use their new understanding of materials to design a real-world solution to a fictional problem.
Examine the properties of natural and made materials including fibres, metals, glass and plastics and consider how these properties influence their use
Examine how people use data to develop scientific explanations
Consider how people use scientific explanations to meet a need or solve a problem
Pose questions to explore observed patterns and relationships and make predictions based on observations
Use provided scaffolds to plan and conduct investigations to answer questions or test predictions, including identifying the elements of fair tests, and considering the safe use of materials and equipment
Follow procedures to make and record observations, including making formal measurements using familiar scaled instruments and using digital tools as appropriate
Construct and use representations, including tables, simple column graphs and visual or physical models, to organise data and information, show simple relationships and identify patterns
Write and create texts to communicate findings and ideas for identified purposes and audiences, using scientific vocabulary and digital tools as appropriate
Make and record observations, including informal measurements, using digital tools as appropriate
Natural and processed materials have a range of physical properties that can influence their use
Science involves making predictions and describing patterns and relationships
Science knowledge helps people to understand the effect of their actions
With guidance, identify questions in familiar contexts that can be investigated scientifically and make predictions based on prior knowledge
With guidance, plan and conduct scientific investigations to find answers to questions, considering the safe use of appropriate materials and equipment
Consider the elements of fair tests and use formal measurements and digital technologies as appropriate, to make and record observations accurately
Use a range of methods including tables and simple column graphs to represent data and to identify patterns and trends
Compare results with predictions, suggesting possible reasons for findings
Represent and communicate observations, ideas and findings using formal and informal representations
Questions, plans and conducts scientific investigations, collects and summarises data and communicates using scientific representations
Selects and uses materials, tools and equipment to develop solutions for a need or opportunity
Describes how adding or removing heat causes a change of state
Investigates the suitability of natural and processed materials for a range of purposes
Compares features and characteristics of living and non-living things
Describes how agricultural processes are used to grow plants and raise animals for food, clothing and shelter
Investigates regular changes caused by interactions between the Earth and the Sun, and changes to the Earthβs surface
Describes the characteristics and effects of common forms of energy, such as light and heat
Describes how contact and non-contact forces affect an objectβs motion
Defines problems, describes and follows algorithms to develop solutions
Describes how digital systems represent and transmit data
Natural and processed materials have a range of physical propertiesΝΎ these properties can influence their use
Science knowledge helps people to understand the effects of their actions
With guidance, identify questions in familiar contexts that can be investigated scientifically and predict what might happen based on prior knowledge
Safely use appropriate materials, tools, equipment and technologies
Use formal measurements in the collection and recording of observations
Use a range of methods including tables and column graphs to represent data and to identify patterns and trends
Compare results with predictions, suggesting possible reasons for findings
Represent and communicate observations, ideas and findings to show patterns and relationships using formal and informal scientific language
The key concepts in this unit include:
Lesson 1
Introduction to Materials
Understand that the world is made of materials working together.
Lesson 2
Properties of Materials
Understand that different materials have different properties which can work together to solve problems.
Lesson 3
Types of Materials
Describe six types of materials you come across in your daily life.
Lesson 4
Material Decisions
Determine how to select a suitable material to solve a problem.
Lesson 5
Impacts of Materials
Understand there is an environmental cost to using some materials.
Lesson 6
Egg Drop Prep
Design a solution to help an extremely rare animal living in our playground.
Lesson 7
Egg Drop Day
Test our ideas in the real world.
Students will use their observation skills to identify the materials various objects are made from. This forms part of the Foundation Che...
Designed in a science theme, this set of WALT, WILF & TIB charts have been created specifically to support classroom science units of work....
This Chemical Sciences presentation has been created to support Lesson 1 of the Material Magic unit written for Year 4. It allows the teache...
This Chemical Sciences presentation has been created to support Lesson 2 of the Material Magic unit written for Year 4. It allows the teache...
This is a small set of cards depicting articles of clothing, that students will try and sort. Initially they will not receive any instructio...
This Chemical Sciences presentation has been created to support Lesson 3 of the Material Magic unit written for Year 4. It allows the teache...
This Chemical Sciences presentation has been created to support Lesson 4 of the Material Magic unit written for Year 4. It allows the teache...
This Chemical Sciences presentation has been created to support Lesson 5Β of the Material Magic unit written for Year 4. It allows the teache...
This presentation introduces students to the final activity of the unit, where they will need to design a contraption to keep a fictional en...
Students examine objects around them to figure out what materials go into their construction.
This title page is a great way to kick off a new unit, or as a fast finishers activity for students throughout the unit. It is a part of...
Students look closely at a familiar material and assess itβs various properties, including physical, mechanical and economic properties.
Students rank common materials based on their physical, mechanical, and chemical properties.
While no materials is capable at being good at everything, all materials serve a purpose. The story of the three little pigs shows how impor...
For this worksheet, students have to weigh the desire to create a sustainable and environmental sound house, while sticking to a budget. The...
Students complete this worksheet after testing their egg drop design and watching others in the class. They sketch their design, and then re...
