Year 1 Science Block 2 Everyday Materials

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Year 1 Science: Everyday Materials

Teach everyday materials year 1 with a complete unit exploring what objects are made from and how materials can be described by their properties. Part of our Scintillating Science programme and aligned with the National Curriculum, this unit helps pupils identify and name common materials, compare materials, and begin to group them using simple scientific vocabulary.

Across six small steps, pupils explore materials in the classroom and local environment and carry out simple investigations to test properties such as waterproof, absorbent, bendy and rigid.

View small steps and unit outcomes

Small steps

  • What materials are objects made from?
  • Where do materials come from?
  • Exploring and describing materials
  • Materials from the local environment
  • Testing materials
  • Selecting materials

Unit outcomes (secure)

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

Working scientifically

  • Asking simple questions and recognising that they can be answered in different ways
  • Using observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions
  • Performing simple tests

Year 1 everyday materials lesson plans and worksheets

Help pupils explore everyday materials in Year 1 with a practical unit covering common materials, their properties and how materials are chosen for different purposes. Part of the Scintillating Science programme and aligned with the KS1 science curriculum, this unit supports pupils to observe closely, compare materials and begin to use scientific vocabulary confidently.

Teachers searching for Year 1 materials worksheets, materials properties Year 1 activities or Year 1 science lesson plans will find everything needed for six clearly sequenced lessons.

What’s included?

  • Step-by-step planning for every lesson
  • Interactive teaching slides for whole-class input
  • Differentiated Year 1 everyday materials worksheets
  • Knowledge organisers to support vocabulary development
  • Practical investigations exploring the properties of materials
  • Assessment opportunities to track pupil progress

Working scientifically in Year 1

  • Ask and answer simple questions about materials
  • Observe and describe materials using scientific words
  • Compare and group materials by simple properties
  • Carry out simple tests such as waterproof or absorbent
  • Record results using drawings, labels and simple tables

Key learning outcomes

  • Distinguish between an object and the material it is made from
  • Identify and name wood, plastic, glass, metal, water and rock
  • Describe materials using simple physical properties
  • Group materials by properties such as hard, soft, bendy and rigid

Why choose our Year 1 everyday materials unit?

  • Aligned with the National Curriculum for KS1 science
  • Clear progression across six small steps
  • Practical investigations with child-friendly recording tasks
  • Differentiated worksheets for mixed ability classes
  • No year group labels on resources, making them suitable for mixed-age KS1

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Free trial available – download everything you need to teach Year 1 everyday materials.