Material Detectives: Exploring the Science of Stuff!
In this 8-week course, learners will be introduced to manmade versus natural materials, explore a variety of materials found in daily life, learn about their properties, understand how they are used and explore their environmental impact.
What's included
8 pre-recorded lessons
8 weeks
of teacher support1 year access
to the contentHomework
1 hour per week. 📝 Homework will be assigned weekly. Given the self-paced nature of this (pre-recorded) class, completion of assignments is required before advancing to subsequent lessons. This ensures that prior content is thoroughly understood as it will be revisited at the beginning of each class. Learners will be able to share their completed assignments through Outschool's messaging system or by posting on the Outschool Classroom. Week 1 - What Are Materials? ❓Go on a materials scavenger hunt! Search for different materials from around your home. Group the materials into groups such as metal, plastic, wood, fabric etc. and create a collage or poster showcasing your findings! Week 2 - Exploring the Properties of Materials 🔍 Set up your very own materials testing lab! Using a selection of materials (e.g, paper, fabric, plastic, metal) conduct simple experiments to test their properties. For example, test the strength of different fabrics by pulling on them or compare the absorbency of different types of paper using water. Week 3 - Metal Mania: The Shiny World of Metals! ⛓️ Search your home for 10 different items made of metal. List each item, identify the type of metal if possible, and describe its use. Week 4 - Plastics Unwrapped: The Mysteries of Modern Materials 🪧 Create a digital poster that raises awareness about plastic pollution and its impact on the environment. Include facts, images, and tips on how people can reduce plastic waste and make more sustainable choices. Week 5 - Fabric Fun: The Art & Science of Textiles 👖 Design your very own scuba diving suit! Test and compare the properties of different fabrics. For example, test absorbency, waterproofing abilities, stretchiness, and durability. Document the process with photos/videos and pitch your design by creating a video presentation. Week 6 - Glass and Ceramics: Secrets of Fired Materials 🪟 Create something new from old glass or ceramic items (e.g. a mosaic from broken ceramic pieces, a decorative item from a glass jar). Document the process with photos or videos and write a brief description of your project. Week 7 - Wood and Paper: Explorations in the World of Trees and Timber 🪵 Research the environmental impact of deforestation and its effects on ecosystems and the climate. Write a report or create a presentation explaining the causes and consequences of deforestation and suggest possible solutions. Week 8 - Innovation Station: Modern Materials & Future Trends 🦾 Invent your very own material! Create a name, describe its properties and draw a picture showing how it can be used and why it is needed. Pitch your modern material by creating a video advertisement or a commercial script showcasing the material's benefits and uses!Assessment
💻 Diagnostic questioning is used at the the start of the course. This is where specific questions are used to assess students' prior knowledge, understanding and misconceptions about a topic before instruction begins. 📋Formative (on-going) assessment are conducted throughout the duration of the course. Weekly quizzes are administered in class to assess student understanding of the material. In order to cater to all learner needs, these quizzes range from multiple choice, 'fill in the blank', matching, true or false and written questions.Class Experience
US Grade 2 - 4
Beginner - Intermediate Level
📚 Content Summary 📚 Welcome to 'Material Detectives: Exploring the Science of Stuff!', a science class where young learners explore the wonders of materials around us! Through interactive online experiments, captivating videos, and fun activities, learners will learn about the properties, uses, and behaviors of various materials, including metals, plastics, fabrics, and glass and ceramics. They will investigate concepts such as density, conductivity, elasticity, and recyclability, developing a deeper understanding of how these materials impact our daily lives and the environment. All of my science classes plan in opportunities for students to develop 'Working Scientifically Skills'. Thes refers to the skills of: 1. Comparative & fair testing 2. Identifying, classifying & grouping 3. Pattern seeking 4. Researching 5. Problem solving 🚨Please note: this course follows the UK Primary National Curriculum and the objectives outlined in their 'Animals Including Humans' science unit. To find a breakdown of what this course entails, please read the course syllabus.
Learning Goals
Learners will...
1. Identify different types of materials
2. Identify the properties of different materials
3. Compare and contrast materials based on their properties and suitability for specific purposes
4.
Syllabus
Curriculum
Follows Teacher-Created Curriculum8 Lessons
over 8 WeeksLesson 1:
What Are Materials?
In this lesson, you will be answering the question, 'What are materials?' You will explore different types of materials (natural vs. manmade) and examine and evaluate the uses of each. Lesson 2:
Exploring the Properties of Materials
In this lesson, you will explore the physical properties of materials (hardness, flexibility, transparency, conductivity, insulation etc.) and
conduct simple experiments to test material properties. Lesson 3:
Metal Mania: The Shiny World of Metals!
In this lesson, you will learn about common metals such as iron, copper, aluminum, and gold, explore their properties (conductivity, appearance and malleability) and examine the uses of of metals in everyday life. Lesson 4:
Plastics Unwrapped: The Mysteries of Modern Materials
In this lesson, you will learn about the types of plastics and their uses, why plastic is such a popular choice and discuss the environmental impact of plastic use. Other Details
Learning Needs
This class offers accesibility features such as adjustable font sizes, closed captioning, visual aids, discussion prompts, sentence frames and the option to use chat and audio recordings in the Outschool classroom.
Parental Guidance
Dear Parents and Guardians,
⚠️Parental Safety Disclaimer: Week 6 Homework Assignment⚠️
The safety of your little learner is paramount while they are engaging in creative activities. For the assignment requiring the creation of artwork using glass or ceramics, I kindly request your assistance and supervision to ensure that proper safety measures are followed.
Please supervise your child during the creation of their artwork, especially if they are handling glass or ceramic materials. Ensure that they use appropriate tools and equipment safely. If your child will be working with glass or ceramics that may pose a risk of injury, such as sharp edges or shards, please ensure they wear appropriate safety gear, such as gloves and safety glasses. After completing their artwork, please assist your child in cleaning up any debris to prevent accidents or injuries. When sharing the final artwork with the class through photos or a video presentation, please ensure that the artwork is safely displayed or handled to avoid any potential accidents.
✂️ Tasks that require the use of scissors will require parental supervision.
Supply List
💻 A laptop, computer or tablet 🛜 Good Wi-Fi connection 📓 Notebook OR 📝 Paper ✏️ Pencil OR 🖊️ Pen 🖍️ Art supplies like coloured pencils, markers or crayons 🗑️ Access to scrap fabric, different types of paper, old glass jars or ceramic pots OPTIONAL: ✂️ Scissors 🎨 Paint 🌈 Coloured craft paper 🖌️Glue
Joined April, 2024
Teacher expertise and credentials
Postgraduate Certificate of Education with Qualified Teacher Status (5-11 years) Reviews
Self-Paced Course
$13
weekly or $100 for all content8 pre-recorded lessons
8 weeks of teacher support
Choose your start date
1 year of access to the content
Choose your start date
Ages: 7-10
