Testing Materials - Lesson Plan

In this comprehensive lesson plan tailored for Year One Chemistry, students embark on a scientific journey to explore and understand everyday materials. The lesson is structured to develop key science skills such as observing over time, noticing patterns, grouping and classifying, and comparative testing. The National Curriculum objectives are clearly outlined, ensuring pupils can identify, name, compare, and describe a variety of everyday materials like wood, plastic, glass, metal, water, and rock. The lesson aims to help students make connections between the physical attributes of materials and their properties, enabling them to suggest suitable materials for specific objects based on these properties. This lesson builds on the foundation laid in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and paves the way for more advanced topics in subsequent years, such as the uses of everyday materials, the properties of rocks, and states of matter.

The lesson plan includes a series of engaging activities that encourage hands-on learning. Students will investigate the transparency of different materials, understanding the difference between transparent and opaque objects. They will also explore waterproof materials by conducting tests to see how water interacts with various objects and materials. The absorbency of materials is another point of focus, where students will observe how different items absorb water. A creative task challenges pupils to design and build a waterproof undersea base, applying their understanding of material properties in a practical context. Throughout the lesson, health and safety considerations are emphasized to ensure a secure learning environment. The lesson concludes with a plenary session where pupils reflect on their learning and assess their progress. The lesson plan is meticulously designed by The Primary Science Advisory Service Ltd, offering a rich blend of theoretical knowledge and practical experimentation.