Uses of Materials

Year 2

Unit Overview

In the Uses of Materials project, your children will learn the names and uses of everyday materials. They will find that materials can be shaped in different ways to make them more useful. They will test how different materials can be shaped and whether they will return to their original shape. They will learn that the properties of materials mean they can be used in different ways and that objects are made from materials that have suitable properties for their purpose. They will find that objects can be made from one material or more than one material and that the same object can be made from different materials with similar properties. Your child will label objects with their materials and think about their properties and uses. They will learn about paper and test the properties of different paper types. They will also find out about recycling and sustainability.

❇ MEMORABLE MOMENT

Our pupils will complete a 'Shopping bag investigation' finding out - which is the strongest shopping bag?

️✏️ WRITING OPPORTUNITIES

The children will have lots of opportunities to write up their predictions, results, conclusions etc.

🌳 LEARNING OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM

The children will explore materials in and around the school grounds.

Unit Sequence: Learning Intentions

How can materials be compared? To observe objects, sorting and grouping them based on their features and explaining their reasoning .
What are the properties of wood, card and paper? To identify and compare the suitability of a variety of everyday materials, including wood, paper and cardboard for particular uses.
What are the properties of brick and rock? - To identify and compare the suitability of a variety of everyday materials, including brick and rock for particular uses.
What are the properties of glass and plastic? To identify and compare the suitability of a variety of everyday materials, including wood, metal, plastic, glass, brick, rock, paper and cardboard for particular uses.
What are the properties of metal? To identify and compare the suitability of a variety of everyday materials, including metal for particular uses
What are the properties of fabric? To identify and compare the suitability of a variety of everyday materials, including wood, metal, plastic, glass, brick, rock, paper and cardboard for particular uses
How can the same object from different materials be compared? To work scientifically -Using their observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions.
Which material would be the best for an umbrella? To work scientifically − Asking simple questions and recognising that they can be answered in different ways.

Scientific Enquiry: Investigations

Testing paper investigation - Testing the different propoerties of paper (i.e. strength, texture, absorbency)
Shopping bags investigation - e.g. Which is the strongest shopping bag material? Which is the best for using in the rain? Which bag squashes into the smallest size?

🏁 SHOW WHAT YOU KNOW

Let's Investigate - the children will devise their own investigation by asking and answering their own questions.

📖 FOCUS TEXT(S)

A range of non-fiction texts about materials will be avahilable in our class library.

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