Lesson 5 — Physical Properties of Materials 1 / 5

Everything around you is made of a material — wood, glass, metal, plastic, fabric. Today we become material detectives! 🔍

🪵 🥃 🥄 🧊 🧦

Step 1: A physical property is something we can observe or measure about a material without changing what it is.

Useful property words:

  • strong — can hold a heavy load
  • flexible — bends without breaking
  • transparent — you can see through it
  • absorbent — soaks up water

Step 2: Scientists test materials to find their properties.

Bend it Drop water Shine light

Step 3: We choose a material because its properties suit the job. This is called fit for purpose.

🪟 A window is glass because it is transparent and waterproof.

👟 A shoe sole is rubber because it is flexible and grippy.

Your turn to be a material detective! 🔍

  1. Play the guess-the-material feely-bag game — name the material and one property.
  2. Examine objects and find their properties.
  3. Complete the Material Detectives worksheet.

Remember: a property is something you can observe without changing the material.