Science / Year 4 / Science understanding / Chemical sciences

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Curriculum content descriptions

examine the properties of natural and made materials including fibres, metals, glass and plastics and consider how these properties influence their use (AC9S4U04)

Elaborations
  • identifying and naming materials in the classroom, and grouping objects made of similar materials or combinations of materials
  • exploring vocabulary for describing properties; observing different fibres, metals, glass and plastics; and using appropriate terms to describe, compare and contrast their properties
  • investigating familiar objects, such as shoes, drink containers or backpacks, examining the combination of materials from which they are made and suggesting reasons for those combinations based on properties of materials
  • considering how First Nations Australians use materials for different purposes, such as tools, clothing and shelter, based on their properties
  • designing, building and testing an object or structure for a specific purpose, such as a tent, lunchbox or bird feeder
  • investigating which materials can be recycled and researching alternatives for materials such as single use plastics
General capabilities
  • Critical and creative thinking Critical and Creative Thinking
ScOT terms

Metals,  Materials,  Glass,  Properties,  Fibres (Materials)

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16 direct matches to AC9S4U04 | 4 other related resources
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Transportation Innovation

  • TLF-IDA005171

In this activity, students participate in a design challenge to use natural materials to design and create a tool that can be used to transport an object between two places. The activity provides students with an opportunity to explore how natural materials can be changed and combined to solve problems (Year 2) and use ...

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Material Sort

  • TLF-IDA005127

In this series of activities, students examine different materials, exploring how they can be described and categorised based on their observable properties. Students observe and describe different materials, then compare, contrast and categorise materials based on their observable properties.

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Downloadable

Construct a pull along toy - teacher resource kit

  • TLF-IDA004940

This activity kit is about engaging students in thinking about wheels and axles. Activities are guided by the design thinking process, and scaffolds students to explore different types of pull-along toys, various ways of constructing them from a range of household and readily-available materials and investigate how wheels ...

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Downloadable

Construct a water wheel - teacher resource kit

  • TLF-IDA004942

This activity kit encourages students to design and construct a simple water wheel model that turns by the flow of water. Activities are guided by the design thinking process, and scaffolds students to research the applications of various simple machines, and the combinations of simple machines they might use to build a ...

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Downloadable

Construct a catapult - teacher resource kit

  • TLF-IDA004941

This activity kit challenges students to design and build catapults out of recycled and household items. Activities are guided by the design thinking process, and scaffold students to explore simple machines, tools, properties of materials and changing variables in experiments. The guide includes lesson ideas, project instructions, ...

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Algorithms: Ngarrindjeri weaving

  • TLF-IDA004600

In this lesson, students will practise breaking down a process into smaller parts or steps as an introduction to computational thinking.

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Downloadable

Are we living sustainably?

  • TLF-IDA003816

This unit of eight lessons poses the question ‘Are we living sustainably?’ Students use prompts to draw on their prior knowledge to explain what they already know about sustainability. They then investigate why water is precious, explore how water is used around their school and at home. Students then research ways that ...

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Interactive

Thermal comfort – sustainability action process (Years 3–6)

  • TLF-IDM020973

This thermal comfort learning resource will guide students through an extended school based investigation. Students will develop and implement a chosen sustainability action and then evaluate and reflect on their success and their learning.

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Sam the Lamb: properties of wool

  • TLF-IDM021647

This short video, narrated by ‘Sam the Lamb’ and a group of young wool enthusiasts, explores the properties of one of nature’s most versatile fibres. Viewers will discover how wool can stretch and return to its natural shape when worn; why wool is safe to wear around campfires and in the sun, and how wool can manages moisture ...

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Online

Carbon clues

  • TLF-IDM019915

Carbon is all around us and available to us in many different forms, yet we can’t see it and often we don’t even know it’s there – using a detective story setting students sift through clues to build an understanding of carbon and the implications of its use. The unit includes PDF resources and video quiz challenges for ...

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Tough zirconium - but what's its secret side?

  • TLF-IDM017939

The element zirconium is often used for its tough, abrasive properties. It also has a secret side. View this clip (developed by students for the 2013 Sleek Geeks Eureka Science Schools Prize competition), which highlights the properties and uses of zirconium in a highly visual and fun way.

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experiMENTALS: Spooky slime

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This resource contains a materials and instruction list and brief explanation for students about the process of making spooky slime with cornflour to produce a substance that is a little like a liquid and a little like a solid.

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Experimentals: Recycling household items

  • TLF-IDM015947

Discover why plastic is harmful to our environment and how recycling helps to reduce its impact. Listen to Jon Dee, founder of Planet Ark, discuss the problem of plastic. Watch as a bag of household items are sorted to identify what can be recycled.

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Elliot and the Surfing Scientist: Red cabbage pH experiment

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It might sound 'un-sciencey', and have a bad smell, but red cabbage is actually very useful for testing the pH of liquids. Added to well-known liquids like lemonade or vinegar, red cabbage juice changes to 'pretty colours'. In this clip, Surfing Scientist Ruben Meerman explains the colour changes and how red cabbage juice ...

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Can We Help?: Artificial eyes: how are they made?

  • TLF-IDM015412

To answer the question 'Are glass eyes really made of glass?' Peter Rowsthorn visits an ocularist who makes artificial eyes. Join him as he investigates how these eyes are made. Witness the skill of an ocularist, Jenny Geelen, as she creates an artificial eye to match Pete's existing eyes.

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Science principles in traditional Aboriginal Australia

  • TLF-IDM013030

This is an illustrated article about how Aboriginal people's traditional knowledge demonstrates an understanding of physics, biology and chemistry and how Aboriginal people gather knowledge through observation, testing, trial and error, adapting and retesting. Written by Kudjala/Kalkadoon Elder from Queensland Letitia ...

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Elliot and the Surfing Scientist: Friction between paper experiment

  • TLF-IDM015713

Are you strong enough to pull two sheets of paper apart? What about two books with the pages intertwined? Watch this experiment performed by Ruben Meerman, the Surfing Scientist, and find out how he tests the presence of friction between pieces of paper.

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Interactive

Wild ride: get a grip

  • TLF-IDL477

Investigate the role of friction in performance of bicycle tyres. Test how the type of tread affects grip and speed. Choose tyres best suited to track and weather conditions in a time trial. Please note that the 'About Grip' button is intentionally hidden and will only appear based on the user's choices. This learning object ...

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Online

Cats, Dogs and Us: Education pack (years 3-4)

  • TLF-IDM018258

This education pack is an International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) resource designed to build students' understanding about the special place domestic cats and dogs have in people's lives. The pack consists of a teaching guide, a student magazine and six student worksheets focusing on topics such as the physical characteristics ...

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Parachutes | Questacon

  • TLF-IDA006045

In this activity, students investigate the motion of falling objects, with and without a parachute. They explore whether different objects fall at different speeds and predict how different materials for making parachutes will perform. They then design, make and test their own toy parachutes. The activity includes a list ...

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