Everyday Materials — Year 1 Lesson Plan
National Curriculum: Science — Uses of everyday materials: distinguish between an object and the material it is made from, Year 1
Overview
Pupils explore the materials that common objects are made from, learning to identify, name, and describe a range of everyday materials. They investigate the properties of materials and begin to understand why particular materials are chosen for specific purposes.
Learning Objectives
- Identify and name a variety of everyday materials: wood, plastic, glass, metal, water, rock, fabric, paper.
- Describe the properties of materials using appropriate vocabulary.
- Explain why a material is suitable for a specific purpose.
- Group objects by the material they are made from.
Key Vocabulary
Suggested Lesson Structure
Pass around a collection of objects (a wooden block, a plastic bottle, a metal spoon, a glass jar, a piece of fabric). Ask: what is each made from? Introduce the word 'material'.
Introduce the key materials and their properties. Use a properties word bank: hard/soft, rough/smooth, transparent/opaque, waterproof/absorbent, flexible/rigid. Match properties to materials. Ask: why is a window made of glass? Why is a raincoat made of plastic-coated fabric?
Pupils test the properties of four materials (e.g. paper, foil, fabric, plastic) by touching, bending, trying to see through them, and testing waterproofness with a few drops of water. Record in a table.
Pupils complete a 'best material' task: choose the most suitable material for a given object (e.g. a cup, a window, a jumper) and explain why using property vocabulary.
Design challenge: what would happen if spoons were made of paper? Pupils reason about properties — why does the choice of material matter?
Common Misconceptions
- Confusing the object with the material: 'it's made of table' rather than 'made of wood' — be explicit that the material is what the object is made from.
- Thinking glass is only transparent — opaque glass (e.g. frosted glass) exists; this is a good extension discussion.
Prior Knowledge
Pupils should already be able to:
- Experience handling a variety of materials in EYFS.
- Ability to describe objects using simple adjectives.
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