University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

In this activity, learners demonstrate the effects of cold-working (strain-hardening) and annealing. Learners discover that these processes change the load that a wire can support.

In this activity, learners investigate the basic crystal structures that metal atoms form.

In this activity, learners determine the elastic and plastic properties of different types of metal wires.

In this activity, learners identify different classes of matter based on physical properties.

In this activity, learners use pop-beads to understand the characteristics and properties of polymer chains.

In this activity, learners use three types of cheesy snacks--cheese balls, cheese puffs, and Cheetos--to learn about polymers.

In this activity, learners test and compare the physical properties of thermoplastic polymers. Learners compare different plastics based on their color, degree of transparency, texture, and density.

In this activity, learners discover why only some types of plastic can be recycled.