Property Detectives
I am smooth, hard, and shiny. I do NOT soak up water.
What material could I be?
metal or plastic
Which material soaks up water faster: grass or cement?
grass
You touch something soft and fluffy.
Is it more likely a rock or cotton?
cotton
Which is better for drying hands: glass or towel?
towel
What do scientists do first: guess or observe?
observe
Two objects are both solids. One is rough, one is smooth.
What property is different?
texture
If water disappears quickly into a surface, we say it ______ water.
absorbs
Why would a scientist close their eyes and use only touch?
to feel texture
Which material is safer for a playground floor: metal or rubber?
rubber
Why do scientists compare objects instead of looking at one?
to see differences
A sponge and a rock are both solids.
Name ONE property that helps you tell them apart.
Absorbs water / texture / softness
You pour water on wood and wax paper.
Which one absorbs LESS water?
wax paper
You touch two objects.
Both are hard, but one is smooth and one is bumpy.
What word describes this difference?
texture
You need something to keep rain out.
Which matters more: color or how it reacts to water?
how it reacts to water
You sort objects by rough and smooth.
What are you really paying attention to?
how they feel
You touch an object without looking. It feels bumpy and hard.
Which tool did you use to observe its properties?
your sense of touch
A towel feels heavier after getting wet.
What happened to the water?
It went inside the towel
You feel an object that is thin, bendy, and smooth.
Name ONE possible material.
plastic/ paper
A chair must be strong and not bend easily.
Would fabric or wood be a better choice?
wood
Your idea changes after testing materials.
Is that a mistake or learning?
learning
A material keeps its shape and does not flow like water.
What kind of matter is it?
solid
Two students test wood on different days and get the same result.
Why does that make their idea stronger?
more sure
If your hands and eyes give different information,
what should you do next?
Two materials look the same.
One absorbs water. One does not.
Why is choosing the right one important?
it must work for the job
You tell a friend why you chose a material using what happened in your test.
Why is that better than just saying “I like it”?
it explains thinking