Everything around us is made of materials: wood, metal, plastic, glass, rock, fabric, rubber and paper. Year 1 scientists name materials and describe them — hard or soft, bendy or stiff, see-through or not.
What your child will learn
- Name everyday materials such as wood, metal, plastic, glass, rubber and fabric
- Tell the difference between an object and the material it is made from
- Describe materials using words like hard, soft, bendy, shiny and waterproof
- Choose a sensible material for a job
Objects and materials
A spoon is an object. It might be made of metal, wood or plastic — those are materials. One object can even be made of several materials, like scissors with metal blades and plastic handles.
We choose materials for their properties: glass for windows because it is see-through, rubber for boots because it is waterproof and bendy.
Example questions
Here are a few questions like the ones in the first quest. Can you solve them?
1. What is a wooden spoon made of?
🥄- Metal
- Glass
- Plastic
- Wood
Show answer
Answer: Wood. A wooden spoon is made of wood, which comes from trees.
2. Which material is see-through?
- Metal
- Glass
- Brick
- Wood
Show answer
Answer: Glass. We can see through glass.
3. True or false? Stone is a hard material.
Show answer
Answer: True. Stone is hard and strong, which is why it is used for walls.
Tips for grown-ups
- Go on a material hunt in the kitchen: what is each thing made of?
- Test which materials soak up water using a spoonful of water and different scraps.