Describing Materials
Match up the describing words with the objects.
stretchy
see-through
soft
waterproof
hard
Draw your favourite toy here. What does it feel like?
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Describing Materials
Here are some objects made from different materials. Use the words in the
box to complete the sentences.
A brick is .
This plastic water bottle is .
My woollen hat is .
A raincoat is .
My friend’s glasses are .
A spoon is .
This mug is .
squashy hard waterproof soft
see-through shiny smooth
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Describing Materials
Write a sentence to describe each of the objects.
window plastic cup
wooden pencils rubber ball
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Describing Materials Answers
A pair of gloves stretchy
A pair of wellies see-through
A rubber band soft
A drinking glass waterproof
Wooden door hard
A brick is hard.
This plastic water bottle is squashy.
My woollen hat is soft.
A raincoat is waterproof.
My friend’s glasses are see-through.
The spoon is shiny.
The mug is smooth.
Answers will vary.
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Year 1 Science – Everyday Materials
Learning from Home Activity Booklet
Year 1 Programme of Study – Everyday Materials
Statutory Page
Activity Sheet Notes
Requirements Number
Distinguish between an In the Toy Box 2
object and the material
from which it is made.
Identify and name a Materials Hunt 3
variety of everyday
materials, including
wood, plastic, glass,
metal, fabric and rock.
Describe the simple Jamie’s Feely Bag 4
physical properties of
a variety of everyday
materials.
Compare and group All Sorted! 5
together a variety of
everyday materials
on the basis of their
simple physical
properties.
Note for parents: The main focus of science teaching in key stage 1 is to enable pupils to experience and
observe things, and to look at the natural and human-made world around them. Encourage your child to
be curious and ask questions about what they notice, and help them to use different methods to answer
their questions, such as observing changes over time, grouping and classifying things, carrying out simple
tests, and finding things out using books and the internet. Talk to your child about what they are doing and
encourage them to use simple scientific language to explain their ideas to you. Most science learning should
take place through first-hand, practical experiences, therefore this booklet contains some ideas for recording
information but has a strong focus on practical activity as well.
The main materials children look at in key stage 1 are glass, wood, plastic, metal, rock or stone and fabric.
They are required to distinguish between an object and the material it is made from, and to recognise these
materials in everyday objects.
Page 1 of 6
In the Toy Box
Draw five of your toys in or near the toy box. Draw a label on each one
saying what it is, e.g. doll, teddy, car.
Now draw another label for each toy to show what material it is made from.
Page 2 of 6
Materials Hunt
Have a hunt around your house and see how many things you can find that
are made from these materials:
glass plastic metal
wood fabric stone or rock
Challenge
How many things can you find that are made from more than one material?
Write them here and say what materials they are made from.
Page 3 of 6
Jamie’s Feely Bag
Jamie has found some objects around his house. He
puts them into a feely bag and uses his hand to feel
an object in the bag and describe it.
Can you guess what each object is? There might be
more than one answer!
Jamie says it feels…
smooth hard cold rigid
What could it be?
Jamie says it feels…
soft warm flexible light
What could it be?
Jamie says it feels…
rough hard rigid heavy
What could it be?
Challenge
Find some objects in your house and think of four words to describe them.
See if your helper can guess what they are.
Page 4 of 6
All Sorted!
Where do these objects belong? Sort them into the diagram. Do any belong
in the middle sections?
scarf spoon brick yoghurt pot table wall
earring teddy bear cushion water bottle window
pencil pen rug jam jar umbrella
flexible waterproof
hard opaque
Challenge
Sometimes one material is used to make another. Use books or the internet to
find out how we make paper and plates.
Page 5 of 6
Key Vocabulary
Children should become familiar with this vocabulary and, where appropriate, depending on age and ability,
should be able to read and spell the words.
wood waterproof
metal hard
fabric soft
plastic opaque
leather transparent
glass flexible
rock rigid
Page 6 of 6
