Material Science

Level: Foundation to Year 3.

Duration: Available in a 60 or 90 minute format. We recommend a 90 minute format if budget and timetabling constraints allow.

Numbers: Each workshop can cater to a maximum of 30 children. However, smaller groups have better access to equipment and the facilitator.

State: VIC, NSW & QLD

‘Materials’ is the word we use for all the different substances that things are made from.

Many natural materials are processed and changed by people, so they can be used for a particular purpose.

Materials have different physical properties that make them suited for different purposes, e.g. soft, shiny, flexible, transparent.

We can change materials in both reversible and irreversible ways.

Changes of state are reversible changes.

Chemical reactions are irreversible changes that produce new materials with different properties to the original ones.

Some chemical reactions are quite ‘violent’ and produce lots of heat and light – and even flames!

Small group classification of a range of materials according to their origin, and whether they are natural or processed.

Students test the physical properties of different properties.

Demonstration of the reversible changes involved in matter moving from one state to another.

In pairs, students investigate the effect of water on corn starch packaging, and link this to why corn starch is a more environmentally friendly option than traditional materials.

Demonstration of the amazing properties of Nitinol memory wire.

Demonstration of a violent chemical reaction that produces heat (and flames!)

Students build small structures from different materials and then test them to determine their suitability for building.

Objects are made of materials that have observable properties (VCSSU044)

Everyday materials can be physically changed or combined with other materials in a variety of ways for particular purposes (VCSSU045)

A change of state between solid and liquid can be caused by adding or removing heat (VCSSU059)

Changes to materials can be reversible, including melting, freezing, evaporating, or irreversible, including burning and rusting (VCSSU077)

Participate in guided investigations, including making observations using the senses, to explore and answer questions (VCSIS051)

Safely use appropriate materials, tools, equipment and technologies (VCSIS067)

Identifies that objects are made of materials that have observable properties (STe-4MW-ST)

Identifies that materials can be changed or combined (ST1-6MW-S)

Identifies that objects are made of materials that have observable properties (STe-4MW-ST)

Questions, plans and conducts scientific investigations, collects and summarises data and communicates using scientific representations (ST2-1WS-S)

Plans and uses materials, tools and equipment to develop solutions for a need or opportunity (ST3-2DP-T)

Objects are made of materials that have observable properties (ACSSU003)

Everyday materials can be physically changed or combined with other materials in a variety of ways for particular purposes (ACSSU018)

A change of state between solid and liquid can be caused by adding or removing heat (ACSSU046)

Changes to materials can be reversible or irreversible (ACSSU095)

Participate in guided investigations, including making observations using the senses, to explore and answer questions (ACSIS025)

With guidance, plan and conduct scientific investigations to find answers to questions, considering the safe use of appropriate materials and equipment (ACSIS065)