Don’t close this browser tab!

This Mystery is being downloaded to your device so you can play it at home without an Internet connection.

Keep this tab open once it's downloaded in order to play the Mystery.

If you experience problems, please talk to your teacher.

0% Cancel
Why are so many toys made out of plastic?

Why are so many toys made out of plastic?

Lesson narration:
Scroll for prep
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen

DISCUSS:

Say you wanted to make a bunch of lion-shaped popsicles.

How do you think popsicle companies make lots of copies, without having to carve each one?

Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen

DISCUSS:

Why do you think toy companies started using plastic instead of wood? What do you think might be so special about plastic?

Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen

DISCUSS: (1/2)

Can you think of any other materials with this property? What else melts besides ice, plastic, metal, and glass?

For a hint, go to the next slide...

Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen

Hint:

Is there anything you eat that melts?

Here is what we thought of...

Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen

DISCUSS: (2/2)

Some candy melts. How can you test different kinds of candy to find out which kinds melt and which kinds don’t?

Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Slide Image
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Slide Image

material


1 of 13

what something is made of, like metal, wood, or plastic
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Slide Image

metal


2 of 13

a natural material that is often shiny and you cannot see through it
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Slide Image

wood


3 of 13

a natural material that comes from trees
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Slide Image

plastic


4 of 13

a material people make that can be formed into almost any shape
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Slide Image

glass


5 of 13

a material people make that's easy to see through
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Slide Image

matter


6 of 13

anything that takes up space; can be in different forms such as solid, liquid, or gas
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen

states of matter


7 of 13

the different forms of matter that include solid, liquid, and gas
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Slide Image

solid


8 of 13

a state of matter, such as water when it is frozen ice
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen

liquid


9 of 13

a state of matter, such as water when you can pour it
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen

freeze


10 of 13

when a liquid turns to solid, like when liquid water freezes to solid ice
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen

melt


11 of 13

when a solid turns into a liquid, like when ice melts into water
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Slide Image

invention


12 of 13

a new object or way of doing things that someone creates
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Slide Image

experiment


13 of 13

a test used to discover new information about a question
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen

Image & Video Credits

Mystery Science respects the intellectual property rights of the owners of visual assets. We make every effort to use images and videos under appropriate licenses from the owner or by reaching out to the owner to get explicit permission. If you are the owner of a visual and believe we are using it without permission, please contact us—we will reply promptly and make things right.

Exploration
doll by Gabby , used under CC BY
legos by Priwo , used under CC BY
superman toy by JD Hancock , used under CC BY
toy car by Emi Yañez , used under CC BY
old photo by Grandview This Week
blocks by Josh Wedin , used under CC BY
horse by Garrison Gunter , used under CC BY-SA
wood car by Collectie Stichting Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen , used under CC BY-SA
carving video by Gene Messer , used under CC BY
wooden lion by Ostheimer Toys , used under CC BY
xacto knife by Just plain Bill
zoo pops by World Wonders , used under CC BY
ice cubes by Liz West , used under CC BY
Ice cube melting by HeyHondo , used under CC BY
ice cube tray by Leif Maxfield , used under CC BY
yeti ice tray by Fred & Friends , used under CC BY
holding ice by AppleSister , used under CC BY-SA
wood by Elke Wetzig , used under CC BY-SA
Edmund Parkes by Barraud , used under CC BY
flask by Databese Center for Life Science , used under CC BY
zombie plastic soldiers by Scientifical Hamster , used under CC BY
army man by davidd , used under CC BY
dinosaur mold by Ron's Rescued Treasures , used under CC BY
lego man by sprout_labs , used under CC BY
Activity
mailbox by CGP Grey , used under CC BY
sign by Richard Leonard , used under CC BY
truck driving by Per , used under CC BY-SA
melting chocolate bar by Shizhao , used under CC BY-SA
caramel by Rainer Zenz , used under CC BY-SA
gummy bears by David O'Hare , used under CC BY
starburst candy by Evan-Amos
Lesson narration:

Activity Prep

Print Prep

In this lesson, students learn about melting, about the solid and liquid states of matter, and then discover why plastic was invented. In the activity, Candy Melt, students conduct an investigation to determine which types of candy melt in hot water. Using their observations, they decide which candy is the best choice to bring to a hot summer camp.

Preview activity

Exploration

20 mins

Extend this lesson