Grades K–2 · 8 connected explanations
Structures & Materials
Notice what a material lets through, how it changes and how its shape helps it do a job. End with shapes that organize a picture.
Materials & Matter
Which material helps keep a toy dry?
A material’s behavior helps explain whether it can keep an object dry.
Materials & Matter
How do materials change the view through them?
Materials can also differ in how they let light pass through.
Materials & Matter
Why does a scoop of ice cream soften in a warm room?
Warm surroundings can change a familiar material from firm to soft.
Everyday Life
Why can a hollow toy boat float?
Changing an object’s shape can change how it sits in water.
Machines
Why do builders put triangles inside frames?
Builders arrange parts into triangles to help a frame keep its shape.
Machines
How can a stone arch hold up a bridge?
A curved arrangement of stones provides another way to support weight.
Mathematics
How can repeating tiles cover a floor without holes?
Shapes also determine whether tiles fit together across a surface.
Arts & Music
How does a stencil help repeat the same picture?
A stencil uses open and covered shapes to guide where paint goes.