🔬 Part 1: Material Properties and Their Uses

1. Match each material with its most important property for the given use:

1. Glass for windows

2. Aluminium for playground seats

3. Wood for doors

4. Steel for bridges

A. Strong and durable

B. Transparent

C. Light and corrosion-resistant

D. Strong, heavy and opaque

2. Why isn't gold used to make pillows? Select the best answer:

Gold is too shiny

Gold is too heavy and expensive

Gold is the wrong colour

Gold rusts easily

3. Which properties make aluminium suitable for playground seats? (Select all that apply)

Lightweight

Resistant to corrosion

Transparent

Durable

Soft and fluffy

🤔 Part 2: Thinking About Material Choices

4. What would happen if we tried to make car windows out of wood instead of glass? Explain your answer:

5. Imagine plastic had never been invented. Fill in the blanks about how our lives would be different:

Water bottles would need to be made from __________ or __________. Food packaging might use more __________ and __________. Toys would be made from materials like __________ and __________.

6. Why do you think scientists and engineers test materials before choosing them for specific products?

🪃 Part 3: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Material Knowledge

7. Match the traditional use with the material property that makes it suitable:

1. Dense wood for digging sticks

2. Lightweight wood for boomerangs

3. Plant fibres for weaving bags

4. Ochre for painting

A. Flexible and strong

B. Natural pigment colours

C. Light but strong for flight

D. Hard and durable

8. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples have used natural materials for thousands of years. What does this tell us about their knowledge of material properties?

They guessed which materials to use

They have deep understanding of natural material properties

They only used whatever they could find

They didn't think about material properties

9. Give an example of how traditional knowledge about materials is still useful today:

❓ Part 4: Create Your Own Investigation Questions

10. Think like a scientist! Write two investigation questions about materials and their suitability for specific purposes. Use the examples we discussed to help you.

Example: "Why is glass used for windows instead of wood?"

Your Question 1:

Your Question 2:

11. Choose one of your questions from above and explain how you might investigate it:

🎨 Part 5: Design Challenge

12. You need to design a new school bag. Draw your design and label the materials you would choose for different parts. Explain why each material is suitable.

Material choices and reasons:

13. Reflection: What is the most interesting thing you learned today about materials and their properties?