Exploring materials - KS1

What is a material?

A material is something that an object is made from, such as metal, plastic or wool.

Materials all have different properties. Properties help us to describe the materials.

Some are soft, some are hard, and some are even waterproof.

Learn about some different materials and their properties. Can you help the inventor and his robot find the best material for their umbrella?

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Here are some common materials you might have heard about.

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Glass
Glass is shiny, waterproof and transparent.
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Metal
Most metals are strong, hard and waterproof.
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Fabric
Fabric is soft, flexible and sometimes stretchy.
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Plastic
Plastic is available in many different colours. It can be very hard or very bendy. It is often waterproof.

There are lots of ways to describe materials and their properties.

Here are some examples of describing words that can be used to tell us what a material is like:

When an object is made, the material for that object is chosen very carefully based on its properties.

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Water bottle
This water bottle is made from plastic and metal because they are waterproof. The water bottle could not be made from fabric because it would leak.
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Teddy bear
This teddy bear is made from fabric so that it is soft and fluffy. That means that the teddy is very cuddly. The teddy bear could not be made from metal because it would be too hard.
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Window
A window has a plastic, wooden or metal frame for strength. The pane is made from glass or plastic because it is waterproof and transparent, which means we can see through it.

Look at these objects and see if you can tell whether they are made from a soft or hard material.

Material	A material is what an object is made from. For example, metal, plastic and fabric.
Properties	Properties are words that describe what a material is like. For example, hard, soft or strong. They help us to decide which is the best material for a certain object.
Transparent	Transparent means that you can see through a material. For example, glass is transparent.
Waterproof	A waterproof material does not allow water to soak through it. It keeps the water out.
Flexible	Flexible materials are bendy and not stiff. They can be bent easily without breaking.

See if you can work out which material is best for each item.