Materials and their properties

Learn how to describe the simple physical properties of a variety of everyday materials

In this activity, participants evaluate several everyday products, identifying the properties they need and the materials that would be suitable to make form.

What are the properties that products need to be able to fulfil their required function: hard, soft, strong, weak, flexible, bendy, recyclable?

What are the reasons why specific types of materials are used to make products? Understanding this will sow the seeds for learners to become informed consumers.

As a class, consider a range of materials and discuss what properties are typically important. For example:

Which bag is best for carrying heavy shopping: plastic or fabric?
Which bowl would be best for a baby: glass or plastic?
Which chair would be best for the outdoors: cardboard or plastic?

Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links
This is one of a set of resources developed to support the teaching of the primary national curriculum. They are designed to support the delivery of key topics within maths and science. This resource focuses on the evaluation of everyday products and what materials they are made from.

Download the free activity sheets!
All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download and are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs.

Tools/resources required
Several actual products that the learners can hold and discuss

The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.

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