Material Masterminds Slides
Material Masterminds
2nd Grade Engineering
What's Wrong Here?
A Car Made of Glass
Why would this be a bad idea?
A Pillow Made of Wood
Why wouldn't this work?
Let's Explore!
Embedded media
Pay close attention to what "Properties" are!
Pause & Think
1:50
"What is a Property?"
In your own words, tell a partner what a property is. How does knowing properties help us?
4:30
"The Umbrella Challenge"
Jesse has a paper, a blanket, and a trash bag. Which one will keep him dry? Why?
Material Match-Up
Step 1: Jobs
Read the Job Card. What does the product need to do?
Step 2: Materials
Look at the Material Cards. Which properties match the job?
Step 3: Justify
Explain why that material is the best choice.
Share Your Success!
Pick one match your group made. Be ready to explain which properties made it the perfect fit for the job!
Material Match-Up Cards
MATERIAL MATCH-UP
SET A: JOB CARDS & DISCUSSION PROMPTS
THE BIG BRIDGE
Must hold heavy trucks and stay strong for many years.
WINTER COAT
Must keep a person warm and feel soft against their skin.
FRAGILE EGG PACK
Must protect an egg from breaking when it gets bumped.
RAIN BOOTS
Must keep feet dry and be able to bend as you walk.
FRYING PAN
Must get very hot quickly and not melt on the stove.
SPACE HELMET
Must be very strong but let the astronaut see where they are going.
DISCUSSION CARDS (CUT OUT)
Why did your group pick this material?
Which property is the MOST important for this job?
What would happen if we used a different material?
MATERIAL CARDS
SET B: PROPERTIES LISTED
STEEL
- Strong & Heavy
- Very Durable
- Rigid (doesn't bend)
WOOL
- Soft & Fuzzy
- Thick (keeps heat in)
- Very Flexible
BUBBLE WRAP
- Filled with Air
- Light & Bouncy
- Squishy
RUBBER
- Waterproof
- Very Flexible
- Grippy & Tough
COPPER
- Conducts Heat
- Strong & Shiny
- Rigid
POLYCARBONATE
- Transparent
- Extremely Tough
- Light Weight
Property Prototypers Worksheet
PROPERTY PROTOTYPERS
Activity & Design Challenge
Name:
Date:
Part 1: Match-Up Log
| The Job | Best Material | Why? (Key Property) |
|---|
| Big Bridge | | |
| | |
|
| Winter Coat |
|
|
| Space Helmet |
|
|
| Fragile Egg |
|
|
Part 2: Extension Challenge
Invent a new product! Draw it below and list the materials and properties you need.
Product Drawing
Product Name:
Material I will use:
Three Important Properties:
Material Masterminds Teacher Guide
MATERIAL MASTERMINDS
Teacher Facilitation Guide
2nd Grade
Time: 50 Minutes
Objective
Students will analyze and select appropriate materials for engineering tasks based on observable and measurable properties.
Materials Needed
- Masterminds Slides
- Match-Up Card Sets
- Prototype Worksheet
- Scissors (for cards)
Key Vocabulary
Properties Transparent Waterproof Flexible Rigid
Lesson Sequence
5 min
Bad Design Warm-Up
Use Slide 2 to spark a discussion about why certain materials don't work for certain jobs. Push students to use property words like "hard," "fragile," "heavy," or "rough."
10 min
Video Viewing & Discussion
Watch the Jesse video (Slide 3). Use the pause points on Slide 4 to anchor discussion.
- 1:50 Discussion: Definition of Properties (Observe & Measure).
- 4:30 Prediction: Why is the trash bag the best choice for rain? (Light + Waterproof).
20 min
Material Match-Up Activity
Students work in groups to match Job Cards to Material Cards. They must use the Discussion Cards to prompt reasoning before recording their matches on the worksheet.
15 min
Presentations & Extension
Groups share one match and justify it. Remaining time is used for the Extension Challenge on the back of the worksheet.
Suggested Activity Matches
Bridge: Steel (Strong, Durable, Rigid)
Winter Coat: Wool (Soft, Warm, Flexible)
Egg Pack: Bubble Wrap (Light, Bouncy, Squishy)
Rain Boots: Rubber (Waterproof, Flexible)
Frying Pan: Copper (Conducts Heat, Rigid)
Space Helmet: Polycarbonate (Transparent, Tough)