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Year 2 - Science

Materials and their uses

Uses of everyday materials

Unit Summary

This unit explores identifying and comparing the suitability of everyday materials like wood, metal, and plastic for specific uses. It examines how solid objects' shapes can change by squashing, bending, twisting, and stretching. The focus is on simple tests, and using data to answer questions.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to explain why different objects are made from different materials depending on their use.

Key Notes

  • A material is what an object is made from.
  • Some common materials are wood, metal, plastic, glass, brick, rock, paper, fabric and cardboard.
  • The describing words we use for a material are called its properties.
  • Objects are made from different materials depending on their use.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • object: An object is something you can touch but something that is not usually a living thing.
  • compare: We compare things by looking at what is the same and what is different.
  • material: A material is what an object is made from. An object can be made from more than one material.
  • describe: When we describe, we say or write what someone or something is like.
  • properties: The describing words we use for a material are called its properties.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Pupils may instinctively classify objects by observational similarities or through knowledge of use rather than by the material from which the objects are made.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.

A material is what an object is made from. Some common materials are wood, metal, plastic, glass, brick, rock, paper, fabric and cardboard.

2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'object'

An object is something you can touch but something that is not usually a living thing. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.

3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.

Mistake: Pupils may instinctively classify objects by observational similarities or through knowledge of use rather than by the material from which the objects are made. Correction: Examples of different objects made from different materials to promote discussion of the properties of materials.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 2 Science guide library.