This document outlines activities for a module on discovering materials about concrete. The activities include: 1) having students identify concrete objects to understand its widespread use, 2) observing how cement hardens through chemical and physical changes and exploring additives, 3) making concrete samples with different formulations to understand how proportions affect density, and 4) testing how proportions affect the strength and brittleness of concrete samples. The goal is to help students learn about concrete and apply that understanding to a project designing safer highway partitions.

1. I am Discovering Materials
Concrete Module

2.  Outlines:
 Introduction
 Activities
 Project Design
 Conclusion

4. Activity 1:
Hunting for objects made of
concrete

5. .By identifying concrete objects in their surroundings, students
recognize the widespread use of concrete as an infrastructure
material. From their observations, students deduce reasons why
concrete is the most common infrastructure material used today.
Activity 1:

6. Activity 2:
Comparing different pastes of cement

7. .Students observe changes that occur as cement hardens
and conclude that the cement-hardening process
involves chemical and physical changes. Students also
explore the effects of additives on cement.
Activity 2:

8. Sample Portland
Cement
Water Additives
Salt
( CaCl2 )
Table
sugar
A 200 g 100 ml 0 0
B 200 g 100 ml 0 2 g
C 200 g 100 ml 12 g 0
 Compare between 3 kinds of
cement :

9. Time
min
Temp A Temp B
+sugar
Temp C
+salt
3 21.4 22.5 28.5
6 21.4 22.6 30.2
9 21.4 22.6 31.5
12 21.4 22.7 32.6
15 21.5 22.7 32.6
18 21.5 22.8 32.7
21 21.6 22.5 32.4
24 22.3 22.3 32.1
27 22.7 22.3 31.4
30 23.1 21.7 30.8
Measure the temperature of each of the samples :

10. Activity 3:
Comparing Different Concrete
Formulations

11. .Students make concrete samples using different
formulations. They discover that the density of
concrete can be changed by changing the proportions
of its components-coarse aggregate, fine aggregate,
cement, and water.
Activity 3:

12. MASS VOLUM
E
DENSITY
SAND 100 g 60 ml 1.6 g/ml
GRAVE
L
100 g 72 ml 1.38 g/ml
MIX 100 g 56 ml 1.78 g/ml
Part A

13. Part B
COARSE
AGGREGATS
FINE
AGGREGATS
CEMENT WATER
A 0 0 200 90
B 0 240 60 33
C 0 240 60 45
D 120 120 60 27
E 120 120 60 33
E* 120 120 60 30
F 120 120 60 39
G 120 120 60 45
H 240 0 60 33
I 240 0 60 45

14. Activity 4:
Testing Properties of Concrete

15. .Using the samples they made in the previous
Activity, students observe how the proportions of
the components of concrete affect its strength
and brittleness.
Activity 4:

16. PROJECT
DESIGNING SAFE PARTITIONING IN THE
WAYHIGH
Introduction and Rationale : We chose this idea because we expected that applying
it the highway will be more safe.

17. 1-Learning general laboratory techniques.
2-How concrete is made.
3-How to control the concrete shape and properties
CONCLUSIONS

18. We want to thank the professors and sponsors
for giving us the opportunity to participate in AL-Bairaq
project.