Describe simple physical properties of everyday materials such as hard/soft, stretchy/stiff, shiny/dull, rough/smooth, waterproof/absorbent, transparent/opaque
Every material has properties. A property is a word for how it feels or looks. Touch it or look closely, then describe it. A rock is hard. A sponge is soft. Hard is the opposite of soft.
A metal spoon is hard and shiny. It feels smooth, and it will not bend. A wooden table is hard and a little rough. Dull is the opposite of shiny. An old coin looks dull.
A sponge feels soft and rough. It squishes when you squeeze it. It soaks up water fast, so it is absorbent, not waterproof. A brick is rough and dull.
A rubber band is stretchy and soft. It stretches when you pull it. A glass window is transparent and smooth. Light passes right through it. Wood is opaque. It blocks light.
Properties matter for real reasons. A raincoat is waterproof, so rain does not soak through.
Properties are useful, not just describing words. A raincoat is waterproof, so rain does not soak through and you stay dry. A sponge is absorbent, so it soaks up spills. A window is transparent, so daylight comes in.
Materials have properties like hard, soft, shiny, rough, stretchy, transparent, and waterproof. Use these words to describe what you touch and see.
The rewritten readings were written for this dataset.
Have you ever tried to read in the dark? It is hard to see! Some things let light through easily. We call these transparent. You can see right through them, like a clean window or clear plastic wrap. Some things block all the light. We call these opaque. You cannot see through them at all, like a wooden block or a thick blanket. Some things let a little light through, but you cannot see a clear picture. We call these translucent, like frosted glass or wax paper. Try this: hold different things up to a lamp. A glass cup lets lots of light through. It is transparent. A metal spoon blocks all the light. It is opaque. Which things in your house are see-through? Which ones block all the light?
A bar of soap can feel hard or soft. Firm soap takes more effort to cut and holds its shape well. Softer soap cuts more easily, but pressing too hard may break it apart.
Start with a round or rectangular bar. Gently push a finger against it. Does it stay firm or feel squishy? You can shape the soap with a spoon or small plastic knife. Carving lets you feel how hard and soft materials behave differently.
The colour in a pastel stick comes from powder held together. You can draw or paint with these sticks. Oil pastels are smooth and soft, sliding easily across paper. Hard pastels are firm and draw fine, sharp lines. Soft pastels feel soft and powdery. Their marks smear easily when you rub them with a finger.
Touch different kinds. Which feels firm? Which feels smooth or powdery? Artists choose among them to make sharp marks or soft-looking marks.
A thin cover on a phone or tablet can help stop scratches. It may protect the screen from some knocks, but cracks can still happen.
These covers are usually transparent. You can see through them and read the screen. Some covers are made from clear plastic that feels a little stiff. If the cover were opaque, it would hide the screen.
Drivers touch a leather steering wheel often. Dirt and oil from hands can leave a greasy shine or a sticky surface.
Leather can feel smooth, but it is not always shiny. Wiping gently with a soft, dry cloth can remove loose dirt. The surface may then look less greasy or less dull and feel smoother. Rubbing gently with a cloth can change how something looks. It is still the same material underneath.
You know the six material names. Now you need words that describe them. Every material has properties: words for how it feels and looks. The game is: look at it, touch it, squeeze it, describe it.
You squeeze a cushion and it squishes down. Which word fits?
Jobs that lean on this skill. Follow one to see everything it is built on.
24 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.