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What materials might be invented in the future?

Inventions & Engineering
4.6 (7121 reviews)
Lesson narration:
English Spanish
Scroll for prep
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DISCUSS:

Imagine you were a scientist who got to make new materials. What would you try to invent?

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DISCUSS:

What kinds of things would you want to invent with materials like these?

glass_superconductor

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Bouncy Glass Invention Show & Tell

After everyone creates an invention, your teacher will choose a few students to present their inventions. After each invention is presented, discuss:

1) What is one thing you really like about this invention?

2) Can you think of one thing that would improve this invention?

Slide Image
Slide Image

material


1 of 4

what something is made of, like metal, wood, or plastic

adhesive


2 of 4

something sticky
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transparent


3 of 4

you can see through it, such as with glass
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invention


4 of 4

a new object or way of doing things that someone creates
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Image & Video Credits

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Exploration
laboratory by Jean-Pierre , used under CC BY-SA
3M by Brandon
mixing epoxy resin by ArtResin , used under CC BY
recycle bin by succo
hands by PublicDomainPictures
scientists by 3M Post-it®
sheet music by stevepb
post-it by Paul Williams , used under CC BY
story boarding by post-it by Bernard Goldbach , used under CC BY
colorful post-its by Dean Hochman , used under CC BY
lightbulb on head by Tinkeringbell
Tropiglas Technologies by Victor Rosenberg , used under CC BY
high tech Shoji Screen by Brian Wilson , used under CC BY
car by Nick Ares , used under CC BY-SA
superconducting levitation by InnovativeMaterials , used under CC BY
skateboarding by Tom Brandt , used under CC BY
the Lexus hoverboard by Lexus International , used under CC BY
Activity
pencil by Charm
glass by Plastock , used under CC BY
jar by Maximaximax , used under CC BY-SA
window by Roger Mommaerts , used under CC BY-SA
glasses by Mollyyoung , used under CC BY-SA
lightbulb by KMJ , used under CC BY-SA
phone by OpenClipartVectors
windshield wipers by ClipArtHut
faucet by livehome , used under CC BY-SA
water by Steve Johnson , used under CC BY
birds by OpenClipartVectors
Credits
What materials might be invented in the future?
Inventions & Engineering
4.6 (7121 reviews)
Lesson narration:
English Spanish

Activity Prep

Print Prep
This is an archived Mystery Science resource. Archived resources are not updated to reflect current scientific understanding or best pedagogical practices.
In this lesson, students learn how new materials are invented. In the activity, Bouncy Glass Inventions, students come up with ideas for inventions that use an exciting futuristic material: glass that bounces and stretches like rubber!
Preview activity

Vocabulary

Vocabulary

Student slideshow: English | Spanish

Teacher printout: English & Spanish
What you’ll need for student
Invention worksheet 1 per student
Prep Instructions

You will need access to a large dry-erase board or chalkboard where you can record student ideas.

We encourage students to think “outside the box” and come up with wild ideas.To prepare yourself to lead the class discussion, we suggest you watch this short video of a creative team coming up with ideas.

Standards

Jump to

Exploration

13 mins

Hands-On Activity

30 mins

Wrap-Up

1 mins

Extend this lesson

Unit Reading

Unit Reading

Heat Stoppers

In this reading, students learn about the insulation properties shared by oven mitts and winter mittens.

Videos

Videos

To inspire your students to invent and create, show a few videos about young inventors of the past and present.

  • Trampoline: A young gymnast figured out how to bounce high in the air after watching acrobats at the circus.

  • Ear muffs: A fifteen-year-old with cold ears and an allergy to wool scarves found a way to keep his ears warm.

  • Surprise!:A boy who didn’t have enough room for an air hockey table in his bedroom came up with a clever way to solve his problem.

Online Resource

Online Resource

A list of inventions by young inventors.

Transcripts

Credits
 
Materials Lesson 4: What materials might be invented in the future?

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