lesson
Choose a useful material
Read with an adult. You can say, point, draw or write your answer.
1 · Learn
An object is a thing. A material is what it is made from. A window can be made from glass. Glass lets light through, so we can see through a clear window.
A material's properties help us decide what to use it for. Transparent means we can see through it clearly. Waterproof means water does not pass through it under the conditions we are considering.
2 · Worked example
I want a towel to soak up water. Absorbent fabric is useful. A waterproof plastic sheet would not soak up water in the same way.
3 · Your turn
For a rain cover, would you choose a sheet that lets water through or a waterproof sheet? Why?
Check your answer
A waterproof sheet, because it helps keep rain from passing through to what is underneath.
4 · Apply your learning
Compare adult-approved dry samples of paper, fabric, plastic, wood and metal. Describe a property and suggest a suitable use.
Adult guidance and safety
Use photographs instead of glass, sharp metal or heavy bricks. Properties vary within a material family; not every plastic is rigid or transparent.
Open your writing and drawing pad
Write, draw or show your working. Use a mouse, pen or finger. This pad is not a submitted answer.
Not saved to your account. Download your drawing as PNG and your typed notes as TXT before leaving or refreshing. They are separate files. Do not enter private information.
Open a picture saved on this device to draw on it again. Opening replaces the drawing, but Undo can restore it. PNG only, up to 4 MB and 4096 × 4096 pixels. The picture stays in this browser; it is not uploaded. Paper lines in a saved picture become part of that picture.
Clear the drawing? Your typed notes will stay. You can undo this action.
Your pad is empty.
Open a UTF-8 TXT file from this device, up to 40 KB and 10,000 characters. It stays in this browser. Opening can be undone until you type again. Downloads keep a new copy; they do not change the file you opened.
Replace the notes on this page with the opened file? Download the current notes first if you want to keep them.
Typed notes are not submitted answers.
My observation notebook
With an adult, look at a safe real example or a checked photograph. Name the example and say which you used. Record what you actually notice. Do not taste plants or materials, approach unknown animals or invent missing observations.
Tell your adult what you notice. They can help you write it. A prediction is what you think might happen; an observation is what you actually see, hear or feel safely.
Keep your notebook: use Download notebook before leaving. Nothing is sent to the website or saved to your account. Reopen the downloaded notebook here to add another day's record. Do not include names, addresses or other private information.
Your records on this page
No observations recorded yet. Look first, then add one.
Reopening adds records; it does not replace your current records. Up to 50 records per notebook. Keep your downloads somewhere private. Editing this notebook does not submit work or complete a lesson.
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