By Allison Robertson

Mr. Blair's fourth grade students took "matters" into their own hands in science class, when they were challenged to a mystery lesson. The students were shipwrecked on an island and had to use the materials in their lunches to make a hat while looking at properties of matter.

The "Mad Hatters" used the following materials:

• a paper bag
• a paper plate
• aluminum foil
• a paper towel.

Students put these materials to three different tests:

1. Softness Test - Which materials are soft enough to put on your head?
2. Sweat-soaker Test - Which materials soak up water and sweat too?
3. Stiffness Test - Which materials are stiff enough to make good hat brims?

After conducting these tests, they had to put the materials together to make a hat. 

What a great and engaging lesson!