Material Properties Vocabulary
Use technical vocabulary to describe and compare material properties — conductor, insulator, thermal, electrical, transparent, opaque, translucent, soluble, insoluble, magnetic, flexible, rigid, density — and apply these terms precisely when selecting and justifying materials for particular purposes
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“If your child had to choose a material to make a window, could they use words like 'transparent' and 'insulator' to explain their choice — not just say 'you can see through it'?”
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- Activity. Use technical vocabulary to describe and compare material properties — conductor, insulator, thermal, electrical, transparent, opaque, translucent, soluble, insoluble, magnetic, flexible, rigid, density — and apply these terms precisely when selecting and justifying materials for particular purposes
What to notice. Classify a set of materials as electrical conductors or insulators and explain why using the correct terms • Use 'transparent', 'translucent', and 'opaque' correctly and distinctly in descriptions • Apply at least four property terms correctly when justifying a material choice for a given purpose
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If your child had to choose a material to make a window, could they use words like 'transparent' and 'insulator' to explain their choice — not just say 'you can see through it'?
Use technical vocabulary to describe and compare material properties — conductor, insulator, thermal, electrical, transparent, opaque, translucent, soluble, insoluble, magnetic, flexible, rigid, density — and apply these terms precisely when selecting and justifying materials for particular purposes
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Check understanding
- Classify a set of materials as electrical conductors or insulators and explain why using the correct terms
- Use 'transparent', 'translucent', and 'opaque' correctly and distinctly in descriptions
- Apply at least four property terms correctly when justifying a material choice for a given purpose
“If your child had to choose a material to make a window, could they use words like 'transparent' and 'insulator' to explain their choice — not just say 'you can see through it'?”
Curriculum record
- Type
- Language
- Subject
- Science
- Domain
- Matter & Materials
- Age range
- Ages 9–11