Group Activity
Materials:
Fill 1 balloon with water, 1 balloon with air, and 1 balloon with dirt. Fill them up to look the same afterwards. Show the class your 3 balloons. By appearances have them compare the balloon. Then allow the students to feel the different balloons. How they are the same, how are they
different. Introduce the word properties. As a class list the different properties to each balloon.
- water
- air
- dirt
- 3 balloons that are the same color
Fill 1 balloon with water, 1 balloon with air, and 1 balloon with dirt. Fill them up to look the same afterwards. Show the class your 3 balloons. By appearances have them compare the balloon. Then allow the students to feel the different balloons. How they are the same, how are they
different. Introduce the word properties. As a class list the different properties to each balloon.
Class Demonstration
Materials:
Place the different materials in front of the students. Allow them to feel and explore the different materials. Have them discuss how they are different and how they are the same as each other. Discuss ways to describe each item. Use words like hard, rough, soft, stretchy, and clear. Give each group the hula hoops and have them come up with a describing word or property. Students must place each item that has that property into the hula hoop. They can do this activity over and over again using different describing words or properties.
- Liquids in clear containers (soap, water, syrup, juice)
- Soft squishy solids (stuffed animal, soft ball, blanket)
- Hard solids (block, rock, book)
- Rough solids (sandpaper, pinecone, stick)
- Stretchy materials (balloon, rubber band, stress ball)
- Zip lock bag with ¼ cornstarch and 1/3 cup water mixed together
- Hula hoop
Place the different materials in front of the students. Allow them to feel and explore the different materials. Have them discuss how they are different and how they are the same as each other. Discuss ways to describe each item. Use words like hard, rough, soft, stretchy, and clear. Give each group the hula hoops and have them come up with a describing word or property. Students must place each item that has that property into the hula hoop. They can do this activity over and over again using different describing words or properties.
Questions
- Why do object have different properties?
- Can the properties of something change? How?
- What properties would work best for making clothes? houses?
- If you were a property what would you be and why?