National Curriculum:

Everyday Materials

distinguish between an object and the material from which it is made

identify and name a variety of everyday materials, including wood, plastic, glass, metal, water, and rock

describe the simple physical properties of a variety of everyday materials

compare and group together a variety of everyday materials on the basis of their simple physical properties

Investigations:

Autumn nature hunt - identify, group and classify found materials by properties, pattern etc.

Seek materials and discuss uses.

Ongoing:

observe changes across the 4 seasons

observe and describe weather associated with the seasons and how day length varies

WOW! Practical Introduction

Tower Build

Which team can use the recyclable materials to build the tallest tower? Can we name the materials as we use them?

Object – A thing we can see and touch, like a spoon or a chair.

Material – What an object is made from, like wood, plastic, or metal.

Property – A word to describe what a material is like (e.g. hard, soft, shiny).

Compare – To look at two or more things to see how they are the same or different.

Group – To sort things into sets based on what they are made from or their properties.

Season – One of the four parts of the year: spring, summer, autumn, winter.

Change – When something becomes different, like weather or how long the day is.

Weather – What the sky and air are like, such as sunny, rainy, or snowy.

Daylight – The light from the sun during the day.

Temperature – How hot or cold it is.

Autumn – The season when the weather gets cooler and leaves fall from the trees.

Leaves – In autumn, they change colour and fall to the ground.

Colder – The temperature drops and it feels cooler outside.

What is the difference between an object and the material it is made from?An object is the thing we use, and the material is what it is made from. For example, a spoon is an object, and it might be made of metal, wood, or plastic. Many objects can be made from different materials. We choose materials based on what we need the object to do.

What materials can we find around us every day?Some materials we see and use often are wood, plastic, glass, metal, water, and rock. These are called everyday materials. Each one looks and feels different and is used for different jobs. We can name and describe these materials when we see them.

What are the simple properties of materials?Materials have different physical properties, like how hard, soft, rough, smooth, bendy, or waterproof they are. Some materials are shiny or dull, and some can float or sink. We can test and observe materials to learn about these properties. Knowing their properties helps us decide what they are useful for.

How can we group materials by their properties?We can sort materials into groups based on what they are like. For example, we might put all the smooth materials in one group and rough ones in another. Hard and soft, waterproof and absorbent are other ways to group them. This helps us compare materials and see which are best for different uses.

What changes happen in nature during autumn?In autumn, the weather starts to get cooler and trees lose their leaves. The leaves turn red, orange, and yellow before falling. Animals begin collecting food and getting ready for winter. Plants stop growing and the days start to feel shorter.

What is autumn weather like and how do the days change?Autumn weather is cooler and often windy or rainy. Sometimes the mornings are misty or foggy. The days begin to get shorter, with less daylight than in summer. It gets dark earlier in the evening as autumn goes on.