Engineering Practice: Explore Properties and Uses of Materials

Engineers use many different materials to create technologies. The properties of each material determine its suitability for the design. Engineers may investigate how the attributes, cost, and aesthetics of a material affect its performance and possible uses.

“Flour—Smooth, Soft, and Lumpy”

Lower elementary students describe properties of flour and water, ingredients they will use to engineer a play dough recipe. Watch & Reflect:

Reflection Questions

Students come to our classrooms with a variety of experiences, knowledge, and skills. By being intentional and public about making observations, the teacher creates an environment where everyone can access the information they need to successfully design play dough made from flour, water, and salt. Having already observed commercial play dough, students can connect how the different materials may come together in a mixture that has the desired properties. 

 

  1. Students use common words to make scientific observations. This allows them to practice their language and try on new words.
  2. Students work on their speaking skills by sharing their thinking out loud.
  3. The teacher records observations on a chart, connecting written words with students’ spoken words. The chart becomes a word bank students can draw from when writing later in the lesson.  
  4.   

Related Practices: Communicate Effectively
Featured Unit: Engineering Sun Hats