A thermal insulator is a material that does not allow heat to pass through it easily.

In a comparative test, the variable that is being changed has name or labels, such as the names of plants.

The result of a test or enquiry is what happened or what was found out.

In a conclusion, scientists explain what the results show or mean.

Thermal insulators: do and review

Science

Properties of materials

Uses of everyday materials

Thermal insulators: plan

Everyday uses of thermal insulators

Insulating our homes and schools (non-statutory Climate Change & Sustainability)

Soluble and insoluble

Recovering insoluble solids

Providing safe drinking water (non-statutory Climate Change & Sustainability)

Separating soluble solids from solutions

Removing salt from seawater (non-statutory)

Reversible changes of state

More reversible changes

Burning: an irreversible change

Burning plants as fuel (non-statutory Climate Change & Sustainability)

Greenhouse gases (non-statutory Climate Change & Sustainability)

Bioplastics (non-statutory Climate Change & Sustainability)

Rusting: an irreversible change

More irreversible changes

How scientists work

In this Properties, changes and separating materials unit, pupils learn to decide how mixtures might be separated, including through filtering, sieving and evaporating. In the Materials challenge unit, they will build on this knowledge to apply their understanding of separating materials to a wider range of everyday situations

In the Everyday materials unit, pupils learnt to compare and group together a variety of everyday materials on the basis of their simple physical properties. In this Properties, changes and separating materials, pupils will build on this knowledge to compare an group together everyday materials on the basis of a wider variety of properties

This unit explores the properties of everyday materials, including hardness, solubility, and conductivity. It covers reversible changes like dissolving and mixing, and irreversible changes such as burning. Emphasis is on scientific enquiries, data recording, and presenting findings with evidence.

Properties, changes and separating materials

Physical activity and equipment requiring safe use

A thermal insulator does **not** allow __________ to pass through easily.

Which of these jobs involves carrying out different types of enquiries to answer questions?

In which part of an investigation would you summarise and explain your findings?

Match the equipment to what it can be used to measure accurately.

Read the measurements on these thermometers accurately. Which thermometer shows a temperature of 44°C?

I think the plastic cup will be the most suitable for keeping warm water warm.

The plastic cup was the most suitable for keeping warm water warm.

We used different cups, warm water and a thermometer in our investigation.

At the end of ten minutes, the water in the plastic cup was 46°C.

Which of these statements show the conclusion from an investigation?

This base layer vest is an example of a {{}} insulator.

A material that allows electricity to pass through easily.

A material that does not allow electricity to pass through easily.

A material that allows heat to pass through easily.

A material that does not allow heat to pass through easily.

Which of these is **not** a physical property of a material?

In which part of an investigation would you explain what you think is going to happen?

What does the conclusion of an investigation tell us?

Testing the effect that changing one variable has on another variable.

Items are sorted into groups based on similarities and differences.

Using secondary sources to learn more about a topic.

Match the type of investigation to the activity.

Thermal insulators: do and review

Lesson outcome

Content guidance