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.

Burning: an irreversible change

Science

Properties of materials

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 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

When a substance _________, it often produces a flame.

Which of these are needed for burning to take place?

Match the type of change to the description.

some new materials are formed but the original materials can be recovered.

Burning is an example of a ______________ change.

How could you learn about changes during burning?

{{}} is the process when a liquid changes into a gas.

Match the process to whether it happens due to heating or cooling.

What is the name of the process that causes water droplets to form from water vapour in the air?

{{}} is the name of the process that causes water in its liquid state to turn into ice.

Which two processes causes ice to change state to become water and water vapour?

Burning: an irreversible change

Lesson outcome

Content guidance