Year 1 Science: Objects and materials
Part of the Year 1 Science objects and materials chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page · Download worksheet (PDF) · Answers (PDF)
Objects and materials
Look around you. You can see lots of objects. An object is a thing, like a chair, a spoon or a bottle.
Every object is made from something. What an object is made from is its material. The chair is made from wood, so wood is its material. The bottle is made from plastic.
Some objects are made from more than one material. Scissors have metal blades and plastic handles.
Key ideas
- An object is a thing, like a chair or a spoon.
- A material is what an object is made from, like wood or plastic.
- Some objects are made from more than one material.
- To find the material, ask: What is it made from?
Key words. An object is a thing, like a chair. A material is what an object is made from, like wood.
Method. Think about what the chair is made from.
- Look at the chair. Think about the stuff it is made of, not what it is used for.Object: chair
- Find its material. The material is the stuff the chair is made from.chair = wood
- Write the answer. wood
Check. Say it as a sentence: The chair is made from wood. ✓
Watch out. Say the material, not the object. The chair is the object. Wood is what it is made from.
Key words. An object is a thing you can name. A material is what things are made from, like wood or plastic.
Method. Decide if the word names a thing, or what things are made from.
- Read the word. Ask: is this a thing, or is it what a thing is made from?wood
- Think about what it means. What things are made from, like wood, is a material.wood is a material
- Write the answer. material
Check. Think of an example. A thing like a chair is an object. A stuff like wood is a material. ✓
Watch out. An object is a thing. A material is what the thing is made from.
Key words. An object is a thing, like a chair. A material is what an object is made from, like wood.
Method. Look at each part of the scissors. Find the material of each part.
- Look at the scissors. Some objects are made from more than one material.Object: scissors
- Look at the blades. This part is made from metal.blades: metal
- Look at the handles. This part is made from plastic.handles: plastic
- Write the answer. metal and plastic
Check. Read the list back: blades = metal, handles = plastic. ✓
Watch out. Do not say only one material when the object has more. Check every part.
Watch out
Watch out: the object is the name of the thing, and the material is what it is made from. A chair is an object. Wood is the material. Do not say the object when someone asks for the material.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Point at things around the room and ask: “What is it made from?” Your child might say “wood” for a table. Praise every good guess, then check it together.
Try it at home
With a grown-up, find three things in the house. For each one, ask: What is it made from? Tell a grown-up your answers. Do not touch anything hot or sharp.
Working scientifically
What do you think you will find when you look at each thing closely? How could we find out what each one is made from?
Exercise 7A Objects and materials
Key words. An object is a thing, like a chair. A material is what an object is made from, like wood.
Method. Think about what the bottle is made from.
- Look at the bottle. Think about the stuff it is made of, not what it is used for.Object: bottle
- Find its material. The material is the stuff the bottle is made from.bottle = plastic
- Write the answer. plastic
Check. Say it as a sentence: The bottle is made from plastic. ✓
Watch out. Say the material, not the object. The bottle is the object. Plastic is what it is made from.
Key words. An object is a thing you can name. A material is what things are made from, like wood or plastic.
Method. Decide if the word names a thing, or what things are made from.
- Read the word. Ask: is this a thing, or is it what a thing is made from?bottle
- Think about what it means. A thing you can name, like a chair, is an object.bottle is an object
- Write the answer. object
Check. Think of an example. A thing like a chair is an object. A stuff like wood is a material. ✓
Watch out. An object is a thing. A material is what the thing is made from.
Key words. An object is a thing you can name. A material is what things are made from, like wood or plastic.
Method. Decide if the word names a thing, or what things are made from.
- Read the word. Ask: is this a thing, or is it what a thing is made from?metal
- Think about what it means. What things are made from, like wood, is a material.metal is a material
- Write the answer. material
Check. Think of an example. A thing like a chair is an object. A stuff like wood is a material. ✓
Watch out. An object is a thing. A material is what the thing is made from.
Key words. An object is a thing, like a chair. A material is what an object is made from, like wood.
Method. Think about what the tin is made from.
- Look at the tin. Think about the stuff it is made of, not what it is used for.Object: tin
- Find its material. The material is the stuff the tin is made from.tin = metal
- Write the answer. metal
Check. Say it as a sentence: The tin is made from metal. ✓
Watch out. Say the material, not the object. The tin is the object. Metal is what it is made from.
Key words. An object is a thing, like a chair. A material is what an object is made from, like wood.
Method. Think about what the chair is made from.
- Look at the chair. Think about the stuff it is made of, not what it is used for.Object: chair
- Find its material. The material is the stuff the chair is made from.chair = wood
- Write the answer. wood
Check. Say it as a sentence: The chair is made from wood. ✓
Watch out. Say the material, not the object. The chair is the object. Wood is what it is made from.
Key words. An object is a thing, like a chair. A material is what an object is made from, like wood.
Method. Think about what the bottle is made from.
- Look at the bottle. Think about the stuff it is made of, not what it is used for.Object: bottle
- Find its material. The material is the stuff the bottle is made from.bottle = plastic
- Write the answer. plastic
Check. Say it as a sentence: The bottle is made from plastic. ✓
Watch out. Say the material, not the object. The bottle is the object. Plastic is what it is made from.
Key words. An object is a thing, like a chair. A material is what an object is made from, like wood.
Method. Think about what the tin is made from.
- Look at the tin. Think about the stuff it is made of, not what it is used for.Object: tin
- Find its material. The material is the stuff the tin is made from.tin = metal
- Write the answer. metal
Check. Say it as a sentence: The tin is made from metal. ✓
Watch out. Say the material, not the object. The tin is the object. Metal is what it is made from.
Key words. An object is a thing you can name. A material is what things are made from, like wood or plastic.
Method. Decide if the word names a thing, or what things are made from.
- Read the word. Ask: is this a thing, or is it what a thing is made from?spoon
- Think about what it means. A thing you can name, like a chair, is an object.spoon is an object
- Write the answer. object
Check. Think of an example. A thing like a chair is an object. A stuff like wood is a material. ✓
Watch out. An object is a thing. A material is what the thing is made from.
Method. Think of a thing that is made of wood.
- Think of things at home. Many things made of wood are furniture, like tables and chairs.chair, table, wooden spoon
- Pick one. Any object made of wood is right.chair
- Write the answer. chair
Check. A chair is an object, and it is made of wood. ✓
Watch out. Name a thing, not a material.
Method. Look at the scissors and check what each part is made from.
- Look at the blades. The blades are the sharp metal parts that cut.blades = metal
- Look at the handles. The handles are the parts you hold, and they are plastic.handles = plastic
- Decide if Mia is right. Mia said the whole pair is metal, but only the blades are.Not all metal
- Write the answer. No. Only the blades are metal. The handles are plastic.
Check. The scissors are made of two materials, so one material is not enough. ✓
Watch out. Look at each part of an object before you answer.
Method. Look at the handles of the scissors.
- Find the handles. The handles are the part you hold.handles
- Check what they are made from. The handles of these scissors are made from plastic.handles = plastic
- Write the answer. plastic
Check. Say it as a sentence: The handles are made from plastic. ✓
Watch out. The blades and the handles can be made from different materials.
Key words. An object is a thing, like a chair. A material is what an object is made from, like wood.
Method. Look at each choice. Pick the one made from wood.
- Look at each choice. Think about what each one is made from.chair: wood; tin: metal
- Find the one made from wood. Only one choice has this material.chair is made from wood
- Write the answer. chair
Check. The other choices are made from different materials. ✓
Watch out. Look at the material, not the shape. Only the chair is made from wood.
Method. Check what a chair is, and what wood is.
- Read what Ella said. Ella said a chair is a material.chair = material?
- Think about the words. A chair is a thing you can name, so it is an object. Wood is what it is made from.chair = object; wood = material
- Write the answer. No. A chair is an object. Wood is the material.
Check. Say it as a sentence: A chair is an object, and it is made from wood. ✓
Watch out. An object is a thing. A material is what it is made from.