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Science Lesson Kit · Teacher Resource

Material Change Patterns: What Stays the Same? — 5E Lesson Plan

Physical Science · 45 minutes

Grade 2

5E lesson flow

  1. 01

    Engage

    6 min

    Teacher Does

    Fold a paper strip into a fan.

    Students Do

    Describe what changed and what stayed the same.

    Ask

    • Did the material change, or did the object change shape?

    Look For

    Paper remains paper; shape changes.

  2. 02

    Explore

    14 min

    Teacher Does

    Guide three change stations.

    Students Do

    Record properties before and after folding, tearing, bending, or wetting.

    Ask

    • Which property are you testing?

    Look For

    Specific observable properties.

  3. 03

    Explain

    9 min

    Teacher Does

    Build a class before/after evidence chart.

    Students Do

    Compare examples and revise broad statements.

    Ask

    • What evidence tells you the material is still paper or foil?

    Look For

    Material identity vs object shape.

  4. 04

    Elaborate

    10 min

    Teacher Does

    Introduce a new matched-sample wetting comparison.

    Students Do

    Plan controls and predict a property change.

    Ask

    • What must stay the same?

    Look For

    Same material, size, amount of water, and timing.

  5. 05

    Evaluate

    6 min

    Teacher Does

    Use the new-sample worksheet.

    Students Do

    Describe one changed and one unchanged property.

    Ask

    • Can you name the property rather than just saying 'it changed'?

    Look For

    Precise property language.

Student goal

I can compare observable properties before and after a material change.

Learning objectives

  • I can describe observable properties before and after a change.
  • I can tell when an object changed shape or size but is still made of the same material.
  • I can plan a fair comparison that changes one action at a time.

Materials

  • Paper strips
  • Aluminum foil squares
  • Small clean sponge pieces
  • Droppers
  • Water
  • Trays
  • Recording sheet

Before class

  • Cut equal-size samples.
  • Prepare small water droppers and spill trays.
  • Choose only safe actions: fold, bend, tear, or wet.
  • Do not heat or burn materials in this lesson.

Prior knowledge

  • Objects are made of materials.
  • Materials can have different observable properties.

Vocabulary

material
The kind of matter an object is made from.
property
A feature we can observe or test, such as texture, flexibility, or absorbency.
shape
The form or outline of an object.
flexible
Able to bend without breaking.
absorb
To take in a liquid.

Differentiation

  • Provide a property word bank with picture cues.
  • Let students handle one sample at a time.
  • Use sentence frames: Before ___. After ___. The ___ changed.
  • For extension, ask students to compare two different materials under the same action.

Assessment

  • Check property vocabulary.
  • Check before/after records.
  • Check fair-comparison planning.
  • Check claims do not equate every change with a new material.

Exit ticket

A foil strip is bent into a circle. Name one property that changed and one thing that stayed the same.

Extension

Design a fair test comparing the flexibility of two safe classroom materials.