2.ETS1.3: Compare and contrast solutions to a design problem by using evidence…

Test It, Choose It: Materials Grades K–2 · partly supports this outcome

What is a spoon made of, and why isn't it made of paper? Children sort objects by material, test which materials keep the rain out and which keep the sun off, and choose the right material for a job. Kitchen, stationery and recycling-bin materials, no weather needed.

• Which material keeps the rain out? 45–55 min

  Children stretch squares of cloth, paper, foil, plastic and cardboard over cups, drip ten drops of water on each and look inside to see which ones let the water through. Then they choose a material and build a roof that keeps a toy dry.

• Which hat keeps the sun off? 50–60 min, or two 30-minute parts

  Children lay dark cloth, light cloth, paper, foil and card in the sun or under a lamp, feel which gets warmest and test which makes the darkest shadow. They also stretch, bend and squash materials to see which spring back. Then they design and build a sun hat and say why they chose each material.

Sound: Can You See a Sound? Grades K–2

Can you see a sound? Young scientists make rice dance on a drum, talk through a string telephone and build a rubber-band guitar to find out that every sound starts with something shaking.

• Can a string carry your voice? 45 min

  Children build cup-and-string telephones and test them with the string tight, loose and pinched, then compare different kinds of string. They find out that a tight string carries the shake of their voice from one cup to the other.

Printable practice for 2.ETS1.3

These pages practise a closely related idea; the match to 2.ETS1.3 is partial.

• Test It, Choose It: Materials workbook included with the unit

  2 English-support pages, 1 practice page, 1 unit review, 1 unit test, with answer keys.

• Sound: Can You See a Sound? workbook included with the unit

  1 practice page, 1 reading, 1 unit review, 1 unit test, with answer keys.

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