Changing Materials - Lesson Plan

The lesson plan from The Primary Science Advisory Service Ltd focuses on Year Two Chemistry, particularly on the uses of everyday materials and how their properties can be changed. Key scientific skills such as observing over time, noticing patterns, grouping and classifying, and comparative testing are to be developed. Pupils will explore the National Curriculum objective of understanding how the shapes of solid objects can be altered through actions like squashing, bending, twisting, and stretching. The lesson builds on previous knowledge from Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and Year 1, where pupils learned to recognise, identify, and describe materials and their properties. This lesson serves as a precursor to more advanced topics in future years, such as comparing materials for suitability in Year 2 and understanding states of matter by Year 4.

Within the lesson, pupils will conduct hands-on activities using various items like plastic bags, foil, and erasers to test and observe the effects of physical manipulations on different materials. They will complete a table documenting the outcomes of twisting, bending, stretching, and other actions on these objects. Further activities involve pupils working with modelling materials such as clay, plasticine, and playdoh to understand their properties and potential uses. They will also create a sculpture from air-drying clay, fostering connections to art and enhancing their understanding of material properties. Health and safety considerations are highlighted, ensuring a secure learning environment. The lesson concludes with a plenary where pupils reflect on the properties of materials like elastic bands and discuss why certain materials are unsuitable for specific products, such as a pencil made of glass. This lesson plan not only addresses scientific concepts but also integrates cross-curricular links with English, Art, and History, providing a comprehensive educational experience.