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An introduction to the different types of stuff around us and their basic properties.
Look around you right now! Did you know that everything you see—from your fuzzy socks to your heavy desk—is made of special 'stuff' called materials?
Everything in our world is made of something! We call these different types of 'stuff' materials. Imagine you are holding a toy. Is it made of wood from a tree? Is it made of plastic? Or maybe it is made of metal?
Scientists look at materials to see how they feel and what they can do. We use different materials for different jobs. For example, we use metal for spoons because it is strong, but we use soft fabric for clothes so they feel nice on our skin. Even water is a material, but it is a liquid one!
Quick Check
Look at the chair you are sitting on. What material do you think it is made of?
Answer
Most chairs are made of wood, plastic, or metal.
To tell materials apart, we look at their properties. A property is just a word that describes how something looks or feels.
Common properties include: - Hard: It doesn't change shape when you squeeze it (like a rock). - Soft: It squishes easily (like a pillow). - Rough: It feels bumpy or scratchy (like sandpaper). - Smooth: It feels flat and even (like a window pane).
If we have block made of wood and block made of sponge, they might look the same size, but their properties are very different!
Imagine you reach into a bag and feel an object without looking. 1. You feel that it is very hard. 2. You feel that it is very smooth and cold. 3. You pull it out and see it is a shiny metal spoon.
Because it was hard and smooth, you knew it wasn't a teddy bear!
Quick Check
If a material feels like a bumpy tree trunk, is it smooth or rough?
Answer
It is rough.
Why don't we make umbrellas out of paper? Because paper gets soggy in the rain! We choose materials based on their properties to make sure they can do their job.
Plastic is great for water bottles because it is light and keeps the water inside. Wood is great for tables because it is hard and strong. When we mix materials or change them, we can build amazing things like houses, cars, and toys. Everything you touch was made from a material that someone chose on purpose!
If you want to build a toy boat that floats: 1. You need a material that is light, like plastic or wood. 2. You should not use metal if it is too heavy, or it might sink. 3. You check if the material is waterproof so it doesn't fall apart in the lake.
Think about a window. It has to do two jobs at once: 1. It must be hard to keep the wind out. 2. It must be see-through (transparent) so we can see outside. 3. This is why we use glass instead of wood for windows!
Which of these is a material used to make a shiny paperclip?
Which word describes a fluffy marshmallow?
Water is considered a material.
Review Tomorrow
Tomorrow, look at three things in your kitchen and try to name the material they are made of.
Practice Activity
Go on a 'Material Scavenger Hunt'! Find one thing made of wood, one made of metal, and one made of plastic in your house.