Hard and Soft Materials: Touch and Compare

Making and building starts with noticing needs. People make things to carry, store, protect, connect, and solve problems in daily life. We use simple words and we learn by doing. We can stack blocks and try different shapes. We can use safe tools with help. We can share and take turns.

Tools help us do work that hands alone cannot do well. A tool can cut, hold, pull, measure, or join materials more safely and accurately. We use simple words and we learn by doing. Materials can be chosen for strength, flexibility, weight, cost, and how easy they are to repair. A good builder thinks about the full life of the object. We can use safe tools with help. We can share and take turns. We can clean up when we finish.

Materials matter. Wood, metal, plastic, fabric, paper, and clay each have strengths and weaknesses that change what we can build. We use simple words and we learn by doing. Some materials handle water well, while others swell or rust. Understanding this helps designs last longer. We can share and take turns. We can clean up when we finish. We can stack blocks and try different shapes.

Design is planning before building. We choose a goal, sketch an idea, gather supplies, and decide the steps we will follow. We use simple words and we learn by doing. We can clean up when we finish. We can stack blocks and try different shapes. We can use safe tools with help.

Testing helps us learn. We check if a bridge holds weight, if a container leaks, or if a handle is comfortable and strong. We use simple words and we learn by doing. We can stack blocks and try different shapes. We can use safe tools with help. We can share and take turns.

Fixing is part of making. When something fails, we look for the weak point, change one thing, and try again. We use simple words and we learn by doing. We can use safe tools with help. We can share and take turns. We can clean up when we finish.

Building is also teamwork. Safe work, clear roles, and respect for others help groups make better results than one person alone. We use simple words and we learn by doing. We can share and take turns. We can clean up when we finish. We can stack blocks and try different shapes. We can build safely and try again. We can build safely and try again. We can build safely and try again. We can build safely and try again. We can build safely and try again. We can build safely and try again. We can build safely and try again. We can build safely and try again. We can build safely and try again. We can build safely and try again. We can build safely and try again. We can build safely and try again. We can build safely and try again. We can build safely and try again. We can build safely and try again. We can build safely and try again. We can build safely and try again. We can build safely and try again.

Quiz 1

• Show a tall stack and a short stack.
• Point to a hard material and a soft material.

Quiz 2

• What can you build with blocks today?
• What do you do if it falls?

Quiz 3

• Name one tool you see.
• How do we take turns?

Quiz 4

• Find a shape that helps a tower stand.
• Show where the base is.

Quiz 5

• Name one safe rule.
• Name one clean-up job.