- Home
- Canvas Guide
Partial Progress - Circles (browser only)
Marvellous Materials – Mending a Torn Umbrella
Objectives
To be able to talk about their scientific reasoning for selecting and investigating certain materials.
Resources
📄 Umbrella Images | Squares of different materials | Pipette or straw | Jug of water | Bowls or large rimmed jugs | Tape
Vocabulary
waterproof | absorbent | breaks/tears | materials | properties
Today's Lesson
Introduction
Place the squares of different materials (from the previous session) in the middle of the table. Choose a material at random and ask your student to tell you one of its properties.
Ask whether they think it is suitable for mending the hole in the umbrella, or if it is unsuitable. Do this with several of the materials.
Then, talk about the materials, considering questions such as:
- How can we know that this material will not let the rain through?
- How can we test it?
New Learning
Ask your student for their ideas of how we could test which materials are waterproof.
Together, plan how you could carry out the test.
For example, you could tape a piece of fabric over a see-through container (such as a glass). Then you could spoon water on top. You could then count how many spoons of water until the water travels into the container.
Practical
Support your student in carrying out the tests.
Ask them to look closely at the droplets on top of the material.
Ask:
- Are the droplets sitting on top of the material? Or are they being absorbed?
Tell your student to look at the underneath of the material.
Ask:
- Is the underneath dry or wet?
- Has the material absorbed the droplets?
Apply
Ask your student to suggest an answer to this question:
If you did not have an umbrella, and it was raining hard, what other everyday objects could you use to keep the rain off your head? Why would they work?
Discuss with your child how science explains how objects they use work.
Extra Challenge
If you are ready for an extra challenge, go on a Material hunt race…
What are the different types of materials?
How quickly can you find one of each material type in your learning environment?
- Wood - a hard material that comes from trees. One of its uses is for making furniture.
- Fabric - a soft material that is used for making clothes. Wool is a type of fabric.
- Plastic - a hard material that is man-made, not so good for the environment.
- Metal - a hard material made from minerals that conducts electricity.
- Glass - a transparent material made from sand, used in windows.