Live Presentations
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Exploring Materials Science
Learn how composition, structure, and processing shape the properties of materials, and witness their surprising response to extreme conditions.
| Format | Live Presentation |
| Grades | 3 – 10 |
| Location | Shapiro Family Science Live! Stage — Museum of Science, Boston |
| Website | n/a |
| Reservation | Seating is first come, first served |
| Fee | Free with Museum Exhibit Halls admission |
Strange Stuff
+ View Detailed Standard Connections
Primary Connections:
MA Science and Technology/Engineering Framework (2006)
(Massachusetts)
- Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) > States of Matter (Grade: 3 – 5)
- Chemistry > Gases and Kinetic Molecular Theory (Grade: 10 – 11)
- Chemistry > Gases and Kinetic Molecular Theory (Grade: 10 – 11)
- Physics > Heat and Heat Transfer (Grade: 9 – 10)
- Technology/Engineering > Construction Technologies (Grade: 9 – 10)
- Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) > Heat Energy (Grade: 6 – 8)
- Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) > Heat Energy (Grade: 6 – 8)
- Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) > Heat Energy (Grade: 6 – 8)
- Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) > Elements, Compounds, and Mixtures (Grade: 6 – 8)
- Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) > Electrical Energy (Grade: 3 – 5)
- Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) > Elements, Compounds, and Mixtures (Grade: 6 – 8)
- Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) > States of Matter (Grade: 3 – 5)
Secondary Connections:
MA Science and Technology/Engineering Framework (2006)
(Massachusetts)
- Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) > Elements, Compounds, and Mixtures (Grade: 6 – 8)
- Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) > Elements, Compounds, and Mixtures (Grade: 6 – 8)
- Chemistry > Properties of Matter (Grade: 10 – 11)
- Chemistry > Properties of Matter (Grade: 10 – 11)
- Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) > Forms of Energy (Grade: 3 – 5)
- Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) > Electrical Energy (Grade: 3 – 5)
- Technology/Engineering > Materials, Tools, and Machines (Grade: 6 – 8)
- Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) > Properties of Matter (Grade: 6 – 8)
- Chemistry > Gases and Kinetic Molecular Theory (Grade: 10 – 11)
- Chemistry > Chemical Bonding (Grade: 10 – 11)
- Chemistry > Properties of Matter (Grade: 10 – 11)
- Chemistry > Properties of Matter (Grade: 10 – 11)
- Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) > Forms of Energy (Grade: 3 – 5)
- Chemistry > Gases and Kinetic Molecular Theory (Grade: 10 – 11)
– View Concise Standard Connections
Primary Connections:
MA Science and Technology/Engineering Framework (2006)
(Massachusetts)
- Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) > 02 States of Matter (Grade: 3 – 5)
Compare and contrast solids, liquids, and gases based on the basic properties of each of these states of matter. - Chemistry > 6.2 Gases and Kinetic Molecular Theory (Grade: 10 – 11)
Explain the relationship between temperature and average kinetic energy. - Chemistry > 6.0 Gases and Kinetic Molecular Theory (Grade: 10 – 11)
Broad Concept: The behavior of gases can be explained by the Kinetic Molecular Theory. - Physics > 3.1 Heat and Heat Transfer (Grade: 9 – 10)
Relate thermal energy to molecular motion. - Technology/Engineering > 2.4 Construction Technologies (Grade: 9 – 10)
Identify and explain the engineering properties of materials used in structures, e.g., elasticity, plasticity, thermal conductivity, density. - Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) > 16 Heat Energy (Grade: 6 – 8)
Give examples of how heat moves in predictable ways, moving from warmer objects to cooler ones until they reach equilibrium. - Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) > 15 Heat Energy (Grade: 6 – 8)
Explain the effect of heat on particle motion through a description of what happens to particles during a change in phase. - Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) > 14 Heat Energy (Grade: 6 – 8)
Recognize that heat is a form of energy and that temperature change results from adding or taking away heat from a system. - Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) > 07 Elements, Compounds, and Mixtures (Grade: 6 – 8)
Give basic examples of elements and compounds. - Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) > 07 Electrical Energy (Grade: 3 – 5)
Identify and classify objects and materials that conduct electricity and objects and materials that are insulators of electricity. - Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) > 06 Elements, Compounds, and Mixtures (Grade: 6 – 8)
Differentiate between an atom (the smallest unit of an element that maintains the characteristics of that element) and a molecule (the smallest unit of a compound that maintains the characteristics of that compound). - Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) > 03 States of Matter (Grade: 3 – 5)
Describe how water can be changed from one state to another by adding or taking away heat.
Secondary Connections:
MA Science and Technology/Engineering Framework (2006)
(Massachusetts)
- Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) > 09 Elements, Compounds, and Mixtures (Grade: 6 – 8)
Recognize that a substance (element or compound) has a melting point and a boiling point, both of which are independent of the amount of the sample. - Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) > 10 Elements, Compounds, and Mixtures (Grade: 6 – 8)
Differentiate between physical changes and chemical changes. - Chemistry > 1.4 Properties of Matter (Grade: 10 – 11)
Distinguish between chemical and physical changes. - Chemistry > 1.3 Properties of Matter (Grade: 10 – 11)
Describe the four states of matter (solid, liquid, gas, plasma) in terms of energy, particle motion, and phase transitions. - Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) > 05 Forms of Energy (Grade: 3 – 5)
Give examples of how energy can be transferred from one form to another. - Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) > 08 Electrical Energy (Grade: 3 – 5)
Explain how electromagnets can be made, and give examples of how they can be used. - Technology/Engineering > 1.1 Materials, Tools, and Machines (Grade: 6 – 8)
Given a design task, identify appropriate materials (e.g., wood, paper, plastic, aggregates, ceramics, metals, solvents, adhesives) based on specific properties and characteristics (e.g., weight, strength, hardness, and flexibility). - Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) > 02 Properties of Matter (Grade: 6 – 8)
Differentiate between volume and mass. Define density. - Chemistry > 6.6 Gases and Kinetic Molecular Theory (Grade: 10 – 11)
Use the combined gas law to determine changes in pressure, volume, or temperature. - Chemistry > 4.1 Chemical Bonding (Grade: 10 – 11)
Explain how atoms combine to form compounds through both ionic and covalent bonding. - Chemistry > 1.1 Properties of Matter (Grade: 10 – 11)
Identify and explain some of the physical properties that are used to classify matter, e.g., density, melting point, and boiling point. - Chemistry > 1.0 Properties of Matter (Grade: 10 – 11)
Broad Concept: Physical and chemical properties can be used to classify and describe matter. - Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) > 04 Forms of Energy (Grade: 3 – 5)
Identify the basic forms of energy (light, sound, heat, electrical, and magnetic). Recognize that energy is the ability to cause motion or create change. - Chemistry > 6.1 Gases and Kinetic Molecular Theory (Grade: 10 – 11)
Using the kinetic molecular theory, explain the relationship between pressure and volume (Boyle's law), volume and temperature (Charles' law), and the number of particles in a gas sample (Avogadro's hypothesis).
Strange Stuff
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