Material World resources

For this practical students make observations about dissolving, and plan and carry out an investigation to find out what makes sugar dissolve more quickly.

Describe methods for speeding up and slowing down melting of an ice cube using one of three provided objects, and explain why the methods would work. Assessment focus: planning an investigation.

Students read some information about testing the absorbency of different papers. They outline two features that need to be kept the same if the tests were to be fair.

Students answer five questions about 'fair testing' for an outlined investigation.

Students are given information and a diagram about a drink bottle overflowing when it had been put into the freezer. Students are asked to explain why this happened and how they could prevent it.

Task: Plan a fair test to see if adding salt water to water affects how long it takes to freeze. Assessment focus: managing variables.

This practical task requires students to carry out three tests to find out if each element is a metal or non-metal.

Students outline a test they could do to show if a substance is a metal or not.

Students are given an experimental setup of heating water with a burning peanut and are asked how they could change this in three ways to get a greater temperature increase. Students are also asked to give two important experimental conditions that should remain the same if the experiment was repeated.

In this NEMP task students conduct a test to identify whether a number of substances are acid, base or neutral. They also answer a question about neutralising. Assessment focus: testing acid or base.

Task: Use understandings about heat energy and insulation to describe how adaptations help Emperor penguins survive in Antarctica. Assessment focus: adaptations for keeping warm in cold conditions.

A description of two 'reactions' with household chemicals is outlined. For each students identify if the reaction is chemical or physical and provide an explanation for their answer.

Using provided information students answer three multiple-choice questions about numbers of atoms, elements, molecules and compounds.

Select the correct pair to set up a fair test. Assessment focus: controlling variables.

Students use a table of some substances and their pHs to answer four questions.

This practical task requires students to first plan how they could find out which liquid flows the best. Then they carry out their plan, record their results, and write a conclusion.

Students interpret a table of data in order to answer four questions on the properties of five different types of paper.

Students are given an outline of an investigation on metal corrosion and a graph of some results. Students' ability to interpret the graph and knowledge of fair testing is assessed via short answer questions.

Students identify which substances undergo a permanent change when they are mixed together.

Students look at two diagrams. The first shows iron nails in test tubes with boiled water or tap water, the second shows iron nails with moisture either present or absent. Students answer five questions about these investigations.

This practical task requires students to use methods of separation to separate a mixture of salt, sand, and iron filings. Students explain how they did this and the property of the substance that they used.

This practical assessment requires students to design and carry out tests on three properties of four different fabrics in order to find the most suitable fabric for the stated purpose.

Task: Students fill in a chart to select the best material for making 6 objects, and give reasons for their answers. Assessment focus: properties of materials related to use.

The liquid range for four common substances has been provided. Students use this to answer questions about melting point, boiling point, and state.

Students use a table of information on melting points and boiling points of six different substances to answer questions about states of matter.