In this unit of study, students look for patterns and cause-and-effect relationships as they describe and classify materials using physical properties. In addition, students collaboratively plan and carry out investigations and analyze and interpret data in order to determine which materials are best suited for an intended purpose.
Today we did an investigation for the testable question: How can we sort materials into groups that have similar patterns?
This investigation is important to start our unit because it sets the students up for the understanding that materials have different properties. And when these properties are discovered by the students, deeper learning will happen! Students already have a lot of vocabulary words to begin describing properties of materials including: bendy, slimy, magnetic, shiny, rough, soft, sharp, etc.