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.

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.

Rusting: 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: 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)

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

{{}} forms when iron is exposed to water and oxygen and is reddish brown in colour.

Which skills are needed to monitor changes in materials as they rust?

The changes observed in rusting materials ...

Which of these are needed for rust to form?

Rusting is an {{}} change because it cannot be undone or changed back.

A change which can be undone or changed back to its original state.

A change which cannot be undone or changed back to its original state.

Evaporation happens faster when the temperature is ...

Match the reverse process of each change of state.

At temperatures between 0°C and 100°C, water is in {{}} state.

Which gas from the air is used during burning?

Match the process to the change of state.

Rusting: an irreversible change

Lesson outcome

Content guidance