Students investigate how small molecules called monomers react to form large molecules called polymers. They create models of cross-linked polymer chains and relate them to the properties of different plastics they test. Finally, they make a polymer and examine its properties.

Student Resources

• 8.1 Vocabulary
• 8.2 Polymers You Have Used
• 8.3 Testing Plastics
• 8.4 Making a Polymer
• 8.5 Polycrystals
• 8.6 Section 8 Assessment

Learn by Reading

For additional content-area reading, check out the Houghton Mifflin Science eBook: Grade 5, Unit E, pages 30–31.