Unit 3c:
Characteristics of Materials
Identify uses of some common materials suggesting several reasons why the material is suitable.
Direct2U Lesson Plan
Children use database software to construct a database of properties of
materials. The children will enter all the data - making decisions about the
properties of each material as they do so. (A data collection sheet is supplied
with the activity.)
 forum.ngfl.gov.uk l Also download Data Collection Sheet
  Look closely at the surface of materials using the intel microscope
Guidance on using Intel Microscope
Look at papers for mopping up a spill and predict which will be the best.
Compare glass, wood and metal.
Look through the microscope at knitted and woven materials. Which will be more stretchy?
Look at different 'waterproof' fabrics and watch, or record in a short movie, what happens when you drop some water onto them.
 Powerpoint Resource - (Greenwich ICT)
 Report ICT Link Unit 3A
Children import the photographs of materials under the microscope into a word processing into a word processing package such as Textease. They add a description and information about each rock.
 ICT Unit 3C
Children use database software to construct a database of properties of materials. When entering the data, children make decisions about the properties of each material.
ICT Unit 3C
As part of the science topic ‘materials’, tell the class that they are going to create a database containing information about kitchen objects. Ask them to think of some questions they would like to ask, e.g. Which is the most common material? Which objects are hard? Which objects are hard and strong?
Provide a wide range of objects, EEG colander, wooden spoon, metal spoon, sieve, saucepan, mixing bowl, spatula, for the children to touch and investigate. Encourage them to talk about the properties of materials, EEG hardness, strength, flexibility. Remind them that the same material may be used to make different objects.
Set up a database with a number of fields, EEG object name, material, hard, strong, flexible, smooth, shiny. These could be simple yes/no answers. Ask the children to add information to the data file about each object.
Once all the objects have been included, create a class list of questions and discuss how they can be translated into search criteria. Search and print out bar charts from the database.
As a whole-class activity, decide what, if any, conclusions can be drawn.
Learning Outcomes
- collect appropriate information, enter it into a database and use the database to answer simple questions
 Teaching Resources (teachingideas.co.uk)
Websites
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