Year 5 properties and changes of materials introduces pupils to the properties of everyday materials and how these properties affect the ways materials are used. Linked to the Year 5 Science National Curriculum, pupils investigate dissolving and reversible changes, compare and group materials, and use evidence to explain why particular materials are suitable for different purposes.
Across six lessons, pupils develop their understanding through practical investigations, observation, comparison and scientific discussion. They explore solubility, investigate reversible changes, compare soils and examine properties including hardness, transparency, conductivity and magnetism.
This unit supports pupils to:
Properties and Changes of Materials forms part of the Scintillating Science Year 5 scheme. Explore the full Year 5 sequence to see curriculum coverage, progression and the other science units available for the year.
The Year 5 properties and changes of materials programme of study builds pupils’ understanding of how materials can be compared according to their properties and why particular materials are suited to different purposes. Pupils also develop their understanding of dissolving, solutions and changes that can be reversed.
Pupils compare and group everyday materials according to their physical properties. This includes exploring hardness, solubility, transparency, electrical and thermal conductivity and magnetism, helping pupils move beyond simply naming materials to explaining how their properties affect their uses.
Through practical Year 5 dissolving investigations, pupils explore what happens when different materials are added to liquids. They learn to use scientific vocabulary including soluble, insoluble, solution, solute and solvent and use observations from their investigations to compare materials.
Year 5 pupils need to recognise that processes including dissolving, mixing and changes of state can be reversible changes. The unit gives pupils opportunities to investigate changes practically and explain whether a material can be returned to its original state.
Pupils apply their knowledge of material properties to explain why materials such as metals, wood and plastics are chosen for particular uses. Rather than simply identifying a suitable material, pupils are encouraged to justify their choices using evidence and scientific knowledge.
This unit includes six sequenced Year 5 science lesson plans with teaching slides, worksheets and practical investigations, alongside a knowledge organiser and assessment materials. The resources support teachers to teach scientific knowledge alongside relevant working scientifically skills, with activities ready to use across the unit.
See how this unit fits into the wider curriculum and explore the complete Year 5 science scheme, or view our primary science scheme of work for Reception to Year 6.
