Author: Amanda McGarrigle

Science—term 4
Everyday Materials
Seasons

Background Information
We will learn about materials and the properties of materials (elastic, texture, hardness, strength).
Children will need to distinguish between material and object. The materials are the basic stuff from which things are made from. By treating and shaping the material in a range of ways, objects can be created. The basic material will have properties associated with it.
As the seasons change, the weather also changes, as does the length of the day.

In this unit the children will…
Investigate the best material to use as a coat for a child—considering the qualities it would need—strength and to be waterproof.
Observe the four seasons and how the weather changes throughout them.
Look at the weather and how it can be recorded and observed.
Look at why and how the length of the day changes throughout the year.

By the end of this unit….
All children can:
Distinguish between an object and the material from which it is made.
Identify and name a variety of everyday materials, including wood, plastic, glass, 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 physical properties.
Conduct a simple experiment to investigate the properties of materials—waterproof.
Complete a simple bar chart to show results of an investigation.
Most children will:
Develop the concept of a fair test and how to make sure something is fair.
Developing and recording in a bar chart.

Cross curricular:
The environment and the impact that the materials we might chose can have on it.

Key Vocabulary
Types of materials: wood, plastic, glass, metal, water, rock, brick, fabric, sand, paper, flour, butter, milk, soil
Properties of materials: hard/soft, stretchy/not stretchy, shiny/dull, rough/smooth, bendy/not bendy, transparent/not transparent, sticky/not sticky
Verbs associated with materials: crumble, squash, bend, stretch, twist
Senses: touch, see, hear, smell and taste