KS1 Properties of Materials Activities

Covers: Activity Resources Relation to National Curriculum Downloads
Activity One - Materials Around The House

Activity 1

Materials Around The House


  • Dt1/1.3a explore and evaluate a range of existing products
  • Sc2/1.4 identifying and classifying
  • Sc2/1.5 using their observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions
  • Sc2/3.1a identify and compare the suitability of a variety of everyday materials, including wood, metal, plastic, glass, brick, rock, paper and cardboard for different uses
Activity Two - Comparing Properties

Activity 2

Comparing Properties


  • Dt1/1.3a explore and evaluate a range of existing products
  • Sc2/1.4 identifying and classifying
  • Sc2/1.5 using their observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions
  • Sc2/3.1a identify and compare the suitability of a variety of everyday materials, including wood, metal, plastic, glass, brick, rock, paper and cardboard for different uses
Activity Three - Suitable Materials

Activity 3

Suitable Materials


  • Dt1/1.3a explore and evaluate a range of existing products
  • Sc2/1.4 identifying and classifying
  • Sc2/1.5 using their observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions
  • Sc2/3.1a identify and compare the suitability of a variety of everyday materials, including wood, metal, plastic, glass, brick, rock, paper and cardboard for different uses
Activity Four - Identify Material Origins

Activity 4

Identify Material Origins


  • Sc2/1.4 identifying and classifying
  • Sc2/1.5 using their observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions
  • Sc2/3.1a identify and compare the suitability of a variety of everyday materials, including wood, metal, plastic, glass, brick, rock, paper and cardboard for different uses

Activity Five - Create A Recycling Poster

Activity 5

Recycling Poster


  • Sc2/1.4 identifying and classifying
  • Sc2/3.1a identify and compare the suitability of a variety of everyday materials, including wood, metal, plastic, glass, brick, rock, paper and cardboard for different uses
Activity Six - Create A Sculpture Using Different Materials

Activity 6

Create A Sculpture With Materials


  • Range of recycling items for example:
  • yoghurt pots
    egg cartons
    cereal box
    toilet rolls
    straws
    bottle tops
  • Tissue paper
  • Straws
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Tape
  • Sc2/3.1a identify and compare the suitability of a variety of everyday materials, including wood, metal, plastic, glass, brick, rock, paper and cardboard for different uses
  • Ar1/1.1 to use a range of materials creatively to design and make products
  • Ar1/1.2 to use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination
Activity Seven - Printing With Different Materials

Activity 7

Printing With Different Materials


  • White card
  • Poster paint
  • Objects made from different materials for example:
  • Metal – spoon / fork
    Plastic – cup / bottle
    Glass – jar
    Wood – bark / stick
    Rock – stone from outside
    Rubber – toy car tyres
  • Ar1/1.3 to develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space
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Activity One - Materials Around The House

Activity 1
Materials Around The House

Practical Resources:

Relation to Curriculum in England:

  • Dt1/1.3a explore and evaluate a range of existing products
  • Sc2/1.4 identifying and classifying
  • Sc2/1.5 using their observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions
  • Sc2/3.1a identify and compare the suitability of a variety of everyday materials, including wood, metal, plastic, glass, brick, rock, paper and cardboard for different uses

Downloads:

Activity Two - Comparing Properties

Activity 2
Comparing Properties

Practical Resources:

Relation to Curriculum in England:

  • Dt1/1.3a explore and evaluate a range of existing products
  • Sc2/1.4 identifying and classifying
  • Sc2/1.5 using their observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions
  • Sc2/3.1a identify and compare the suitability of a variety of everyday materials, including wood, metal, plastic, glass, brick, rock, paper and cardboard for different uses

Downloads:

Activity Three - Suitable Materials

Activity 3
Suitable Materials

Practical Resources:

Relation to Curriculum in England:

  • Dt1/1.3a explore and evaluate a range of existing products
  • Sc2/1.4 identifying and classifying
  • Sc2/1.5 using their observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions
  • Sc2/3.1a identify and compare the suitability of a variety of everyday materials, including wood, metal, plastic, glass, brick, rock, paper and cardboard for different uses

Downloads:

Activity Four - Identify Material Origins

Activity 4
Identify Material Origins

Practical Resources:

Relation to Curriculum in England:

  • Sc2/1.4 identifying and classifying
  • Sc2/1.5 using their observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions
  • Sc2/3.1a identify and compare the suitability of a variety of everyday materials, including wood, metal, plastic, glass, brick, rock, paper and cardboard for different uses

Downloads:


Activity Five - Create A Recycling Poster

Activity 5
Recycling Poster

Practical Resources:

Relation to Curriculum in England:

  • Sc2/1.4 identifying and classifying
  • Sc2/3.1a identify and compare the suitability of a variety of everyday materials, including wood, metal, plastic, glass, brick, rock, paper and cardboard for different uses

Downloads:

Activity Six - Create A Sculpture Using Different Materials

Activity 6
Create A Sculpture With Materials

Practical Resources:

  • Range of recycling items for example:
  • yoghurt pots
    egg cartons
    cereal box
    toilet rolls
    straws
    bottle tops
  • Tissue paper
  • Straws
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Tape

Relation to Curriculum in England:

  • Sc2/3.1a identify and compare the suitability of a variety of everyday materials, including wood, metal, plastic, glass, brick, rock, paper and cardboard for different uses
  • Ar1/1.1 to use a range of materials creatively to design and make products
  • Ar1/1.2 to use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination

Downloads:

Activity Seven - Printing With Different Materials

Activity 7
Printing With Different Materials

Practical Resources:

  • White card
  • Poster paint
  • Objects made from different materials for example:
  • Metal – spoon / fork
    Plastic – cup / bottle
    Glass – jar
    Wood – bark / stick
    Rock – stone from outside
    Rubber – toy car tyres

Relation to Curriculum in England:

  • Ar1/1.3 to develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space

Downloads:

Suggested Resources

How do I use these activities?

In this topic your child will identify and classify different materials around the house, discover Venn diagrams and create a recycling poster. Identify different material types and create a sculpture using them.

This resource meets the following aspects of the National Curriculum of England: Art, Design & Technology and Science. Don’t forget to check out the rest of our key stage one topics where you will find great curriculum standard activities for your classroom or home educated children. There are plenty of subjects for you to choose from, so you’ll be delighted with the wide range when planning your day.

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