Students should begin developing the abilities to communicate, critique, and analyze their work and the work of other students. Those properties can be measured using tools, such as rulers, balances, and thermometers. Objects are made of one or more materials, such as paper, wood, and metal. Objects can be described by the properties of the materials from which they are made, and those properties can be used to separate or sort a group of objects or materials. Some common materials, such as water, can be changed from one state to another by heating or cooling.
Heat can move from one object to another by conduction.
By grade 4, distinctions between the properties of objects and materials can be understood in specific contexts, such as a set of rocks or living materials. People have always had questions about their world. Science is one way of answering questions and explaining the natural world. Trying to determine the effects of solutions helps people avoid some new problems. Scientists and engineers often work in teams with different individuals doing different things that contribute to the results.