Using the Properties of Materials to Improve a Model Boat

Learning Resource Type

Classroom Resource

Subject Area

Science

Grade(s)

2

Overview

Students will use what they know about the properties of paper, plastic, and aluminum foil to decide how the materials can be used for a specific purpose.  

The teacher will demonstrate making a paper boat to guide students, who work in pairs, to make their own paper boat. The boat will be placed in water to demonstrate how many pennies the boat can hold before sinking. Students are then guided to think of ways to improve the boat by covering it with waterproof material. Students make the same paper boat and cover it with plastic and aluminum foil. Students test the boat to see if it holds more pennies than the original paper boat.

Science (2015) Grade(s): 2

SC15.2.1

Conduct an investigation to describe and classify various substances according to physical properties (e.g., milk being a liquid, not clear in color, assuming shape of its container, mixing with water; mineral oil being a liquid, clear in color, taking shape of its container, floating in water; a brick being a solid, not clear in color, rough in texture, not taking the shape of its container, sinking in water).

UP:SC15.2.1

Vocabulary

  • Solid
  • Liquid
  • Physical Properties
  • Investigate
  • Classify
  • Opaque
  • Transparent
  • Translucent
  • Rough
  • Smooth
  • Float
  • Sink
  • Shape
  • Various
  • Substances
  • Conduct
  • Describe

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Different kinds of matter exists.
  • Properties of both solids (opaque, transparent, translucent, rough, smooth, float, sink, has its own shape) and liquids (color, assumes shape of container, opaque, transparent, translucent).
  • Many types of matter can be either solid or liquid, depending on temperature.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Plan and conduct an investigation to produce data that is used to describe and classify substances according to physical properties.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Observable patterns in the properties of materials provide evidence to classify the different kinds of materials.

Scientific and Engineering Practices

Planning and Carrying out Investigations

Crosscutting Concepts

Patterns
Science (2015) Grade(s): 2

SC15.2.2

Collect and evaluate data to determine appropriate uses of materials based on their properties (e.g., strength, flexibility, hardness, texture, absorbency).*

UP:SC15.2.2

Vocabulary

  • Evaluate
  • Data
  • Graphs
  • Properties
  • Purpose
  • Strength
  • Flexibility
  • Hardness
  • Texture
  • Absorbency
  • Collect
  • Appropriate

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Properties of materials (e.g., strength, flexibility, hardness, texture, absorbency) Different uses for the materials.
  • The relationship between properties of materials and some potential uses (metal is strong, paper is absorbent, etc.).

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Conduct simple tests to collect and display data about the physical properties of various materials.
  • Analyze data to identify and describe relationships between properties and their potential uses.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Simple tests can be designed to gather evidence about the relationship between properties of materials and their intended uses.

Scientific and Engineering Practices

Analyzing and Interpreting Data

Crosscutting Concepts

Cause and Effect

CR Resource Type

Lesson/Unit Plan

Resource Provider

American Chemical Society

License Type

Custom
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