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Everyday Materials

Science Year 2 Materials Matter

Explore the useful properties of materials with a range of investigations involving absorbency and flexibility. Discover which type of kitchen towel or cloth is most effective at mopping up spills. Consider why building materials must be absorbent and which ones fit the bill. Create artwork by exploring the textures of materials and learn all about wax and how to re-mould it.

block outcomes Key Concepts

Session 1 Mopping up

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Objectives

Explore the properties of different kitchen papers and disposable cloths. Rise to the challenge of mopping water from the floor. Which paper is the most absorbent? Which will be the best for mopping up the spillage?

Science Objectives
i) Identify and compare the suitability of a variety of everyday materials, including wood, metal, plastic, glass, brick, rock, paper and cardboard for particular uses.

ii) Find out how the shapes of solid objects made from some materials can be changed by squashing, bending, twisting and stretching.

Working Scientifically

  1. Ask simple questions and recognise that they can be answered in different ways.
  2. Observe closely, using simple equipment.
  3. Perform simple tests.
  4. Identify and classify.
  5. Use observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions.
  6. Gather and record data to help in answering questions.

Extended Writing Opportunities
Recount: Write a science report recounting how you investigated the absorbency of various materials and what you found out.

Lesson Planning

Teaching

  • Explore the properties of different kitchen paper and disposable cloths.
  • Make predictions about which would be best at mopping up a spillage of water.
  • Investigate which papers are the most absorbent by choosing a method and working in a group.
  • Understand the different reasons why people may need to use absorbent materials.

Activities

  1. Create hypotheses and make predictions about the absorbency of different kitchen paper and disposable cloths.
  2. Investigate which papers are the most absorbent by choosing a method and working in a group.

Investigation
Consider the questions: are all makes of paper as good as each other? Or are some better than others?

Investigate which papers are the most absorbent by laying thin strips of equal length of different materials (including a waterproof strip) in a shallow tray and pouring coloured water onto the edge of the strips.

Vocabulary
Material, properties, absorbency, waterproof, strong, weak, hypothesis

Session 2 Are bricks absorbent?

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Objectives

Think about hard materials and their absorbent properties. Which building materials are absorbent? Why must they have this property? Test different hard materials and record the results.

Science Objectives
i) Identify and compare the suitability of a variety of everyday materials, including wood, metal, plastic, glass, brick, rock, paper and cardboard for particular uses.

ii) Find out how the shapes of solid objects made from some materials can be changed by squashing, bending, twisting and stretching.

Working Scientifically

  1. Ask simple questions and recognise that they can be answered in different ways.
  2. Observe closely, using simple equipment.
  3. Perform simple tests.
  4. Identify and classify.
  5. Use observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions.
  6. Gather and record data to help in answering questions.

You Will Need

Provided Resources

  • Hypothesis Thinking Sheet

Additional Resources

  • A variety of hard materials (different type of wood, including balsa wood, brick, plastics, plaster, clay, metals)
  • Shallow bowls of water
  • Timer

Lesson Planning

Teaching

  • Consider what buildings are made of and why. Generate questions about the absorbency of building materials.
  • Devise an investigation to test a variety of materials for their absorbent property.
  • Make predictions and to observe and record results.

Activities

  1. Explore what buildings are made of and generate questions about the absorbency of building materials.
  2. Consider and investigate the hypothesis "Hard materials cannot absorb water" and make predictions about different materials before testing them.
  3. Make decisions about how to record the results of the investigation in a clear way for others to follow.

Investigation - observing over time, problem solving
Devise an investigation to test a variety of materials (plastics, metals, different types of wood and bricks) for their absorbent property.

Vocabulary
Material, properties, absorbency, waterproof, strong

Session 3 Waterproofing materials

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Objectives

Explore different fabrics and investigate how waterproof they are using a dropper of water. How can we make the fabrics waterproof? Colour them in with wax crayon and repeat the investigation!

Science Objectives
i) Identify and compare the suitability of a variety of everyday materials, including wood, metal, plastic, glass, brick, rock, paper and cardboard for particular uses.

ii) Find out how the shapes of solid objects made from some materials can be changed by squashing, bending, twisting and stretching.

Working Scientifically

  1. Ask simple questions and recognise that they can be answered in different ways.
  2. Observe closely, using simple equipment.
  3. Perform simple tests.
  4. Identify and classify.
  5. Use observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions.
  6. Gather and record data to help in answering questions.

Lesson Planning

Teaching

  • Discuss waterproof materials and their uses.
  • Investigate the absorbency of fabrics.
  • Consider the question: How can we make the fabric waterproof?
  • Discuss findings and suggest explanations.

Activities

  1. Understand that, if a material does not absorb water, it is said to be waterproof.
  2. Investigate the absorbency of fabrics and the effect of adding a layer of wax crayon.
  3. Discuss the findings and consider the reasons for fabrics being waterproof.

Investigation - pattern seeking, problem solving
Investigate the absorbency of fabrics by stretching them over a jar to make them taut and using a dropper to drop water onto the cloth. Observe and measure the number of drops and the time they stay on the cloth before being absorbed.

Vocabulary
Material, properties, absorbency, waterproof, strong

Session 4 Printing

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Objectives

Explore the textures and properties of different materials by printing with a selection of items. Make a large collective piece of art showing the variety of materials used by the class.

Science Objectives
i) Identify and compare the suitability of a variety of everyday materials, including wood, metal, plastic, glass, brick, rock, paper and cardboard for particular uses.

ii) Find out how the shapes of solid objects made from some materials can be changed by squashing, bending, twisting and stretching.

Working Scientifically

  1. Ask simple questions and recognise that they can be answered in different ways.
  2. Observe closely, using simple equipment.
  3. Perform simple tests.
  4. Identify and classify.
  5. Use observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions.
  6. Gather and record data to help in answering questions.

You Will Need

Provided Resources

  • Vocabulary Bingo resource

Additional Resources

  • Collection of manmade and natural objects
  • Sticky notes
  • Poster paint
  • Large sheets of paper


Weblinks
Ideas for vegetable printing from www.goodtoknow.co.uk

Lesson Planning

Teaching

  • Discuss the difference between natural and manmade objects.
  • Explore the properties of a range of natural and manmade objects including observing any similarities and differences between the two groups.
  • Describe the textures and appearance of the different items.
  • Explore the texture and various properties by using them to print with paint.
  • Display the artwork represent materials and their properties.

Activities

  1. Understand the difference between natural and manmade objects and sort into groups.
  2. Describe the textures and appearance of the different items.
  3. Explore the texture and various properties (absorbency, flexibility) by using them to print with paint.

Investigation - exploring
Explore the texture and various properties (absorbency, flexibility) by using them to print with paint onto squares of cloth or card.

Vocabulary
Material, properties, absorbency, waterproof, strong

Session 5 Resist the wax!

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Objectives

Learn more about the waterproof properties of wax by having a go at a wax resist picture!

Science Objectives
i) Identify and compare the suitability of a variety of everyday materials, including wood, metal, plastic, glass, brick, rock, paper and cardboard for particular uses.

ii) Find out how the shapes of solid objects made from some materials can be changed by squashing, bending, twisting and stretching.

Working Scientifically

  1. Ask simple questions and recognise that they can be answered in different ways.
  2. Observe closely, using simple equipment.
  3. Perform simple tests.
  4. Identify and classify.
  5. Use observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions.
  6. Gather and record data to help in answering questions.

Extended Writing Opportunities
Information text: Use your new wax crayons to make colourful posters about why we should be recycling materials and not throwing them away.

You Will Need

Provided Resources

  • Examples of wax resist art

Additional Resources

  • Watercolour paint or thinned poster paint
  • Paint brushes
  • Pieces of card
  • Wax crayons
  • Oil pastels, or a stick of fabric wax
  • Squares of fabric
  • Vaseline
  • Tin foil

Lesson Planning

Teaching

  • Use wax drawing and colour washing as a reminder of the waterproof properties of wax.
  • Make a wax resist picture using wax crayons, oil pastels and paint.
  • Consider the questions: why is waterproof material sometimes used for making clothes? Can you think of other reasons why a material needs to be made waterproof?

Activities

  1. Explore wax resist painting using oil pastels, wax crayons and paint.
  2. Understand the role of wax and its waterproof properties in wax resist art.

Investigation - exploring
Make a batik wax resist piece of art by applying molten wax to a piece of cotton and dying it. Chop up old wax crayons and heat in moulds in the microwave/oven. Make new wax crayons in a different shape.

Vocabulary
Material, properties, absorbency, waterproof, strong, resist

Session 6 Melting and moulding

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Objectives

Talk about how some materials change shape when they are heated up. Chop up old wax crayons, heat them up and turn them into different shapes!

Science Objectives
i) Identify and compare the suitability of a variety of everyday materials, including wood, metal, plastic, glass, brick, rock, paper and cardboard for particular uses.

ii) Think about unusual and creative uses for everyday materials.

iii) Find out how the shapes of solid objects made from some materials can be changed by squashing, bending, twisting and stretching.

Working Scientifically

  1. Ask simple questions and recognise that they can be answered in different ways.
  2. Observe closely, using simple equipment.
  3. Perform simple tests.
  4. Identify and classify.
  5. Use observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions.
  6. Gather and record data to help in answering questions.

You Will Need

Provided Resources

  • Particles Role Play and Melting and Remoulding Wax Crayons resource

Additional Resources

  • Old wax crayons
  • Plain paper and paper for writing on
  • Silicone moulds
  • Old mugs or jugs
  • Scissors
  • Knife
  • Microwave

Weblinks
Desert Island Materials game from www.bbc.co.uk

Lesson Planning

Teaching

  • Learn about what happens when a material is heated up and why it changes shape.
  • Role-play what happens to the particles in a material when it is heated.
  • Investigate the changes to wax crayons caused by heat.

Activities

  1. Understand what happens when a material is heated up and why it changes shape.
  2. Discuss the importance of recycling materials.
  3. Understand and experience recycling by remoulding wax crayons in new and different shapes.

Vocabulary
Material, properties, melting, particles, changing shape

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