Can students organize the properties of materials cubes into larger categories such as color or texture?

Look for evidence on notebook pages. Ask this key question as you interpret their notebook entries:

Enlarge Notebook Sample

Have they identified categories that encompass individual properties?

• color: light, medium, dark
• type of material: metal, plastic, wood
• smell metallic, no smell, sap
• texture: smooth, bumpy, rough
• weight of cube: heavy, medium, light

A next step might be to hide one of the cubes behind your back, describe some of its properties, and ask students to identify the cube. Having modeled this "properties game," give students a few minutes to play the game with a partner.