Material matters
How do we choose the right material for a job?
Years 3–4 · 6 lessons
Primary science · Years 3 and 4
Bottlebrush Education has ready-to-teach lessons for Australian primary teachers. Pupils observe, compare, record evidence and explain patterns—using everyday materials, digital models or paper, as suitable for the lesson.
These are examples from the live lesson catalogue. Follow each topic link to see its lessons, materials information and questions before selecting a classroom activity.
How do we choose the right material for a job?
Years 3–4 · 6 lessons
How do we know something is alive, and how do living things change as they grow?
Year 3 · 4 lessons
How do pushes and pulls change the way things move?
Year 4 · 4 lessons
Where does water go, and how does it come back as rain?
Year 4 · 4 lessons
Is all soil the same, and how do people use different soils?
Year 3 · 3 lessons
How do plants and animals in dry parts of Australia fit their whole life cycle around the rain?
Year 3 · 3 lessons
Who cleans up after the animals, and what happens when there is no clean-up crew?
Year 4 · 3 lessons
Why do some playground surfaces get so hot, and how can we make them cooler?
Year 3 · 3 lessons
Start with a question the children can investigate. Give them a fair comparison or a good observation, then ask them to explain using the evidence they actually collected. For example, a materials lesson can compare how different surfaces absorb water; a water lesson can compare droplets on a cold and warm cup. Do not present an assumed result as if children measured it.
Some topics use simple classroom items; others contain no-materials digital activities. Every topic identifies the equipment requirements. If devices are shared, use one projected activity and paper notebooks where the lesson supports that approach.
No. The catalogue includes Australian Curriculum v9 links and planning support, but teachers and schools should verify official current requirements and adapt for their students and local curriculum before reporting or assessment.
Read the public teaching topics and check the science question, classroom materials and curriculum links. Browsing is free; a teacher account is needed to assign work to a class.
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