A material is the substance that objects are made from such as wood, metal or plastic.

The physical properties of a material are the features that can be observed or measured.

Transparent materials let light pass through so you can see clearly through them.

An electrical conductor is a material that allows electricity to pass through it easily.

Magnetic materials are materials that are attracted to magnets.

Properties of materials

Science

Uses of everyday materials

Thermal insulators: plan

Thermal insulators: do and review

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

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

If something or someone is suitable, it has properties which are right or acceptable for it.

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 names or labels, such as the names of plants.

A variable is something that can be changed, measured or kept the same in an investigation.

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

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

A thermal conductor is a material that allows heat to pass through it easily.

Someone or something that is suitable for a particular purpose or occasion is right or acceptable for it.

If a material insulates electricity or heat it means it does not allow it to pass through it easily.

A fuel is something that can be used to generate heat or light.

Temperature is a measure of how hot something is.

We compare things by looking at what is the same and what is different.

The impact of something is the effect it has.

If a solid dissolves in a liquid, it mixes so completely with the liquid that it cannot be seen.

A liquid can flow and take the shape of the bottom of its container.

A material that will dissolve is soluble.

A material that will not dissolve is insoluble.

If a solid dissolves in a liquid, it mixes completely with the liquid so that you can no longer see it.

Solids or gases that do not dissolve in a liquid are called insoluble.

To separate something means to divide it into different parts or groups.

To filter means to pour a mixture of liquid and solid through a fine mesh to separate the solid particles from the liquid.

A sieve is a tool with a mesh of holes that lets smaller pieces pass through while keeping larger pieces behind.

Working scientifically: Using scientific equipment - Recovering insoluble solids

To have access is the ability to enter or use something.

A microorganism is a very tiny living thing.

To filter is to separate the solid particles in a liquid using filter paper or a fine mesh.

A natural object or material has not been made or changed by humans.

If a solid or gas dissolves in a liquid, it mixes so completely with the liquid that it cannot be seen.

Solids and gases that dissolve in a liquid are soluble.

A solution is a mixture of a liquid with a dissolved solid or gas.

To separate something, you put different parts of it into different groups.

To evaporate is to change from a liquid to a gas.

Some solids dissolve in liquids to form a solution.

Evaporation is the change of state from a liquid to a gas.

Condensation is the change of state from a gas to a liquid.

Desalination is the process of removing salt from seawater.

The three common states of matter are solid state, liquid state and gas state.

A substance is the material that something is made up of.

A change of state is when a material changes from one state of matter to a different state.

If a change is reversible, it can be undone or changed back.

To recover is to get back something that had changed or was taken away.

If a change is reversible, it can be undone or changed back to its original state.

A new material is formed when a starting material goes through an irreversible change.

If a change is irreversible, it cannot be undone or changed back to its original state.

To observe is to look very closely and use other senses too.

Fossil fuels are fuels made over millions of years from fossilised plants and animals buried deep beneath Earth's surface.

Carbon dioxide is a type of gas found in Earth's atmosphere.

Sustainable means using things in a way that doesn't use them up or harm the environment, so they can be used again in the future.

Biofuels are fuels made from plant materials.

Carbon dioxide is a type of gas found in Earth’s atmosphere.

Gases which contribute towards global warming are called greenhouse gases.

Temperature is a measure of how hot or cold something is.

Evidence is information which helps us to prove that something is true or not true.

Climate change is when the long-term weather patterns change.

Plastic is a material which is made from crude oil and can be moulded into different shapes.

If something is degradable, it can be broken down into the simple parts that made it.

A bioplastic is a plastic made from materials which come from sustainable sources such as plants.

Rust is a reddish brown material which forms when iron or steel reacts with water and oxygen from the air.

Most metals are strong, hard and shiny materials.

Bicarbonate of soda is a white powder, used in baking.

Foods that contain acids have a sour taste.

Carbon dioxide is a type of gas that is in the air around us.

Control variables are variables that are kept the same throughout an investigation.

A variable is something that can be changed, measured or kept the same in a comparative or fair test.

Properties, changes and separating materials

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