Testing Materials - Teacher Explanation

Welcome to Lesson 1.5 in the Year 1 unit on Everyday Materials, where the objective is to teach pupils how to identify and name various everyday materials such as wood, plastic, glass, metal, water, and rock. This lesson aligns with the National Curriculum's requirements for pupils to be able to categorize materials based on their simple physical properties, distinguish between an object and the material it is made from, and describe these properties. Safety is paramount, so ensure that all materials handled by pupils are free from sharp edges or breakages to prevent injuries. Additionally, as water is used in this lesson, any spillages must be promptly cleaned to avoid slip hazards.

The lesson is rich with cross-curricular opportunities, including English, where pupils could create a guide to construction, Design and Technology (DT) as they will be constructing an underwater base, and History, with a potential exploration of the Pyramids of Giza's construction materials. The activities are designed to test the waterproof capabilities and absorbency of materials. Pupils will classify materials as transparent or opaque, with guidance provided on the nuances of terms such as 'translucent'. The lesson plan offers flexibility in material selection and encourages the use of resources from previous lessons. Pupils will engage in hands-on experiments to determine the waterproofness and absorbency of materials, culminating in a challenge to create a waterproof undersea base. This practical application of their learning will help solidify their understanding of material properties.