New
New
Year 2

Materials and their uses

I can explain why different objects are made from different materials depending on their use.

New
New
Year 2

Materials and their uses

I can explain why different objects are made from different materials depending on their use.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A material is what an object is made from.
  2. Some common materials are wood, metal, plastic, glass, brick, rock, paper, fabric and cardboard.
  3. The describing words we use for a material are called its properties.
  4. Objects are made from different materials depending on their use.

Common misconception

Children may instinctively classify objects by observational similarities or through knowledge of use rather than by the material from which the objects are made.

Examples of different objects made from different materials to promote discussion of the properties of materials.

Keywords

  • Object - An object is something you can touch but something that is not usually a living thing.

  • Compare - We compare things by looking at what is the same and what is different.

  • Material - A material is what an object is made from. An object can be made from more than one material.

  • Describe - When we describe, we say or write what someone or something is like.

  • Properties - The describing words we use for a material are called its properties.

This lesson contains a lot of new vocabulary relating to the properties of materials. Give the children plenty of opportunities to explore real objects and use these new words in a meaningful context.
Teacher tip

Equipment

A collection of everyday objects made from common materials would be helpful for children to explore.

Content guidance

  • Exploration of objects

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of these is an object?
a hamster
a tree
Correct answer: a spoon
Q2.
Which of these is not a material?
wood
paper
Correct answer: a towel
Q3.
Which of these objects is made from plastic?
a tin
Correct answer: a toy elephant
a chair
Q4.
Which of these objects is made from wood?
toy building bricks
Correct answer: a toy car
bottles
Q5.
True or false? All objects are only made from one material.
An image in a quiz
True
Correct answer: False
Q6.
Which of these statements is true?
An image in a quiz
All objects are made from the same material.
Correct answer: Some objects are made from different materials.
All objects are made from different materials.

6 Questions

Q1.
What are objects made from?
An image in a quiz
properties
Correct answer: materials
opaque
Q2.
Which of these is a material?
An image in a quiz
a box
a book
Correct answer: paper
Q3.
What do we call words that describe materials?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: properties
objects
tests
Q4.
Which of these are properties of materials?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: opaque
wood
metal
Correct answer: dull
Q5.
When we compare objects, we ask two questions. The first question is what is the same. What is the second question?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: What is different?
What is made of glass?
What is the biggest?
Q6.
Why are objects made from different materials?
An image in a quiz
Different objects are different colours.
Correct answer: Different objects have different uses.
Different objects are different shapes.