This Year 2 uses of everyday materials unit helps pupils investigate the properties, uses and suitability of different materials through practical enquiry and hands-on science investigations. Across six engaging lessons, pupils identify and compare everyday materials, explore how materials can be changed and discover how recycling helps turn old materials into useful new products.
Aligned with the National Curriculum, the unit encourages pupils to compare materials for different purposes, investigate how objects can be shaped by bending, twisting, stretching and squashing, and develop scientific vocabulary linked to material properties. Through bridge-building challenges, boat investigations, recycling activities and transparency experiments, pupils apply their knowledge in meaningful real-world contexts.
Part of our comprehensive Scintillating Science scheme, this unit includes lesson plans, interactive teaching slides, differentiated worksheets, practical investigations and assessment materials to support engaging Year 2 science lessons.
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Uses of everyday materials
Working scientifically
This Year 2 science unit helps pupils develop understanding of everyday materials and their properties through practical investigations and scientific enquiry. Pupils learn to identify materials, compare their suitability for different purposes and investigate how materials can be changed to solve problems and complete tasks.
Lessons encourage pupils to test materials, build and improve structures, investigate floating and sinking, explore recycling processes and compare transparent, translucent and opaque materials. Pupils develop scientific vocabulary while building confidence in observing, predicting, testing and explaining their findings.
The unit strengthens working scientifically skills by encouraging pupils to identify and classify materials, perform simple tests, make predictions and use evidence from investigations to answer scientific questions about the world around them.
This unit forms part of our wider Scintillating Science scheme, supporting progression from EYFS science through to KS1 science.
