You Will Need
Provided Resources
- Hypothesis Thinking Sheet
Additional Resources
- A variety of hard materials (different type of wood, including balsa wood, brick, plastics, plaster, clay, metals)
- Shallow bowls of water
- Timer
Are bricks absorbent?
Science Year 2
This unit is part of
Year 2 Science Materials Matter
Objectives
Think about hard materials and their absorbent properties. Which building materials are absorbent? Why must they have this property? Test different hard materials and record the results.
Science Objectives
i) Identify and compare the suitability of a variety of everyday materials, including wood, metal, plastic, glass, brick, rock, paper and cardboard for particular uses.
ii) Find out how the shapes of solid objects made from some materials can be changed by squashing, bending, twisting and stretching.
Working Scientifically
- Ask simple questions and recognise that they can be answered in different ways.
- Observe closely, using simple equipment.
- Perform simple tests.
- Identify and classify.
- Use observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions.
- Gather and record data to help in answering questions.
Lesson Planning
Teaching
- Consider what buildings are made of and why. Generate questions about the absorbency of building materials.
- Devise an investigation to test a variety of materials for their absorbent property.
- Make predictions and to observe and record results.
Activities
- Explore what buildings are made of and generate questions about the absorbency of building materials.
- Consider and investigate the hypothesis "Hard materials cannot absorb water" and make predictions about different materials before testing them.
- Make decisions about how to record the results of the investigation in a clear way for others to follow.
Investigation - observing over time, problem solving
Devise an investigation to test a variety of materials (plastics, metals, different types of wood and bricks) for their absorbent property.
Vocabulary
Material, properties, absorbency, waterproof, strong