Science year 4. CEIP Alba Plata.

1. MATERIALS AND THEIR PROPERTIES CEIP ALBA PLATA
CURSO 2017-2018
WHAT IS MATTER?
Remember → Everything around us is made of matter. Then, matter is everything you can see,
smell and touch. Matter is anything that has mass and takes up space (it has volume).
Matter has two properties: mass and volume.
• Mass is the amount of matter in an object.
• Volume is how much space an object occupies.
What is mass? Mass is the amount of
matter in an object.
There is a difference between mass and
weight. Mass is a measure of the matter in
an object while weight is a measure of
gravity’s pull on an object.
What is volume? Volume is the amount of
space something occupies. Words such as
big, little, long, or short are used to
describe volumes. A marble takes up a
small volume while a star occupies a large
volume. Different states of matter will fill
volumes in different ways.
Let's do an experiment.
States of
matter
In nature, matter can be found in
three states: solid, liquid and gas.
Atoms are all made of very small parts
of matter. Those atoms go on to build
the things you see and touch every day.

2. MATERIALS AND THEIR PROPERTIES CEIP ALBA PLATA
CURSO 2017-2018
MATERIALS AND THEIR PROPERTIES
What are materials?
In nature, we can find different types of matter: water, iron, salt, cotton, gases in the air…
A material or a substance is the different type of matter which forms an object. Like matter,
materials have mass and volume. They have also general and specific properties. We use these
properties to differentiate one material from another.
Materials can be natural or man-made.
 Natural materials are found in nature. They come from plants, animals, minerals and rocks.
Wood, leather, cotton, wool and sand are natural materials.
_______ _______ _______ _______ _______
 Man-made materials are NOT found in nature. They are made by people. For example,
paper is made from wood, glass is made from sand, and plastic is made from petroleum.
_______ _______ _______
* Activity 1. In your notebook, copy the chart below and make a list of natural and man-made
materials. Before writing, pay attention to the smart board in order to help you complete your
list.
Natural materials Man-made materials

3. MATERIALS AND THEIR PROPERTIES CEIP ALBA PLATA
CURSO 2017-2018
Properties of materials
We can perceive some properties with our senses. Some examples of these properties are colour,
taste, smell and texture. Texture is how an object feels. For example, glass is smooth, a rock is
rough and a sponge is soft.
When we make something, we choose materials according to their properties. A material can be:
▪ Flexible. It doesn't break if you bend it. For example, leather or fabric.
On the contrary, rigid materials are difficult to bend. For example, wood or metals.
▪ Strong. It can support a lot of weight and force. For example, iron or wood.
On the contrary, weak materials can’t support weight and force. The may break or deform.
For example, clay.
▪ Light. It does not weigh much. For example, aluminium.
On the contrary, heavy materials weigh much. For example, iron.
▪ Transparent. Light can pass through it, and you can see through it. For example, glass.
On the contrary, opaque materials don't let any light pass through it. For example, wood.

4. MATERIALS AND THEIR PROPERTIES CEIP ALBA PLATA
CURSO 2017-2018
▪ Heat-resistant. It withstands high temperatures without changing. For example, steel.
▪ Elastic. It can be stretched and it returns to its original shape. For example, rubber.
▪ Waterproof. It doesn't let water pass through. For example, plastic.
On the contrary, absorbent materials can soak up water and let water pass through them.
For example, a sponge.
▪ Fragile. It breaks easily. For example, glass.
On the contrary, hard materials are difficult to scratch or break. For example, diamond.

5. MATERIALS AND THEIR PROPERTIES CEIP ALBA PLATA
CURSO 2017-2018
▪ Magnetics. They are attracted by magnets. For example, metal.
▪ Conductors. Both, heat and electricity can travel through them easily. For example, metal.
On the contrary, some materials are insulators of heat. This means they don't allow heat
or electricity to travel through them very easily. For example, wood.
▪ Buoyancy. Some materials have the ability to float in water or other liquid. This is because
of density. For example, wood.
Density measures how much matter there is in a specific volume. Think about two solid
balls. One ball is made of cork and the other is made of steel. While they have the same
volume, the ball of steel has more mass than a ball of cork. The ball of steel has more
density than the ball of cork.
Solids float on liquids that have more density than them. If a liquid is less dense than the
solid object, the object sinks.
Liquids have also different densities. A litre of water has more mass than a litre of oil.
This is why water is denser than oil. Air is less dense than water.
Let's experiment it!

6. MATERIALS AND THEIR PROPERTIES CEIP ALBA PLATA
CURSO 2017-2018
* Activity 2. Properties of materials quiz. Answer the questions.
1. Why couldn't you use a plastic towel?
It would be too bendy.
It wouldn't be absorbent.
It wouldn't conduct heat.
2. Why wouldn't you sit on a glass chair?
It might shatter.
It wouldn't be absorbent.
It would be transparent.
3. Where do metals come from?
From rocks called ores.
From fibres woven together.
From trees.
4. How is glass made?
By heating sand.
By mashing up wood from trees.
By weaving fibres together.
5. How is paper made?
By heating sand.
By mashing up wood from trees.
By weaving fibres together.
6. Metal is used for nails because it...
rusts.
is shiny.
does not bend easily.
7. Wood is used for matches because it...
floats.
rots.
burns.
8. Rubber is used for wellington boots
because it...
floats.
is opaque.
is waterproof.
9. Which spoon is it safer to stir very hot
soup with?
A metal spoon.
A wooden spoon.
A paper spoon.
10. Material A is stretchy but not absorbent.
Material B is very absorbent but does not
stretch. Which makes the best swimwear?
Material A.
Material B.
Both Material A and Material B make
good swimwear.
* Activity 3. Choose the correct answer.
▪ Taste / Texture is how an object feels.
▪ A material is elastic / transparent if it recovers its shape after being bent.
▪ A material is flexible / fragile if it breaks easily.
▪ A material is opaque / soft if it can be scratched easily.

7. MATERIALS AND THEIR PROPERTIES CEIP ALBA PLATA
CURSO 2017-2018
Uses of MATERIALS
Some materials we use daily are very versatile. They have different uses due to their different
properties. We usually use wood, plastics, metals, fibres (fabric), glass and combustibles.
 Wood is a natural material we get from trees. It is strong and slightly flexible. This material is
used for making furniture, sculptures and other decorations. It is also used to make paper.
Wood can be combustible and can provide light and heat.
 Plastic is an artificial material we mainly get from oil. There are many different types of plastic
with different properties. This is why plastic has so many uses like car parts, shower curtains
and toys.
 Most metals like iron and aluminium can be found in nature in the form of minerals. We have
to transform them to use them. Iron is very strong and heavy. We use it in construction to
make gates and bridges. Steel is light and strong. It is used to make cars. Aluminium is strong
and very light. It is used to make aeroplanes.
 Fibres are elastic and strong. They are used to make fabrics. Some fibres are natural, like wool
or cotton. Other fibres, like lycra or polyester, are man-made and we get from petroleum.
Some of them are more elastic and stronger than natural fibres. We can make clothes, curtains...
with fibres.
 Glass is a man-made material. We get it by heating sand to a very high temperature until it melts.
It is strong, hard, smooth, transparent and easily washable. Depending on its transparency and
hardness, we use it to make windows, glasses, etc.
* Activity 4. What I am? Work with a partner. Use the clues below to identify the materials.
a) I am a strong, natural material and can be made into a useful object you can sit on while
eating dinner.
b) I am a soft, flexible man-made material used to wrap or carry food in to keep it fresh
and dry.
c) I am a strong and hard material made from natural minerals. I can be made into things as
small as a nail or as big as an airplane.
d) I am a man-made material. I am smooth and transparent. You can probably see through at
least one of me from where you are sitting.
e) I am a soft, stretchy, natural material. I may be found anywhere on your body right now. I
could also be on your bed or hanging from your windows.