Year 1 Science Properties of Materials: check-up and quiz

Key words. Hard means it does not squash when you press it.

Method. Test the stone, then choose the word that fits it.

1. Test the stone. Try it gently, or look at the picture.
   does not squash
2. Choose the word that fits. It does not squash when you press it, so it is hard.
   hard
3. Write the answer.
   hard

Check. Test it again the same way, and the word stays the same. ✓

Watch out. Test first, then choose the word. Do not guess from the name.

Key words. Rough means it has bumps that you can feel.

Method. Test both things, then find the one that is rough.

1. Look at both things. Test each one in the same way.
   sandpaper   or   plastic plate
2. Find the one that is rough. It has bumps that you can feel, so it is rough.
   sandpaper is rough
3. Write the answer.
   sandpaper

Check. The other one is smooth, so only sandpaper is rough. ✓

Watch out. Test both things before you choose. Do not choose by the name or the colour.

Key words. Shiny means it is bright and has a shine.

Method. Test the metal spoon, then choose the word that fits it.

1. Test the metal spoon. Try it gently, or look at the picture.
   bright shine
2. Choose the word that fits. It has a bright shine, so it is shiny.
   shiny
3. Write the answer.
   shiny

Check. Test it again the same way, and the word stays the same. ✓

Watch out. Test first, then choose the word. Do not guess from the name.

Key words. Stretchy means it gets longer when you pull it, then goes back to its shape.

Method. Test the rubber band, then answer Yes or No.

1. Test the rubber band. Try it gently, or look at the picture.
   gets longer, then goes back
2. Answer yes or no. It gets longer when you pull it and then goes back, so it is stretchy.
   Yes
3. Write the answer.
   Yes

Check. Test it again in the same way, and your answer is the same. ✓

Watch out. Answer from the test, not from what you think it might be.

Key words. Stretchy means it gets longer when you pull it, then goes back to its shape.

Method. Test both things, then find the one that is stretchy.

1. Look at both things. Test each one in the same way.
   piece of card   or   rubber band
2. Find the one that is stretchy. It gets longer when you pull it and then goes back, so it is stretchy.
   rubber band is stretchy
3. Write the answer.
   rubber band

Check. The other one is not stretchy, so only rubber band is stretchy. ✓

Watch out. Test both things before you choose. Do not choose by the name or the colour.

Key words. See-through means you can see things through it.

Method. Test the window, then answer Yes or No.

1. Test the window. Try it gently, or look at the picture.
   the star can be seen
2. Answer yes or no. You can see the star through it, so it is see-through.
   Yes
3. Write the answer.
   Yes

Check. Test it again in the same way, and your answer is the same. ✓

Watch out. Answer from the test, not from what you think it might be.

Key words. Waterproof means water does not soak through or into it.

Method. Test the rubber boot, then answer Yes or No.

1. Test the rubber boot. Try it gently, or look at the picture.
   water sits on top
2. Answer yes or no. Water sits on top and does not soak in, so it is waterproof.
   Yes
3. Write the answer.
   Yes

Check. Test it again in the same way, and your answer is the same. ✓

Watch out. Answer from the test, not from what you think it might be.

Key words. Absorbent means it soaks up water.

Method. Test both things, then find the one that is absorbent.

1. Look at both things. Test each one in the same way.
   rubber boot   or   sponge
2. Find the one that is absorbent. Water soaks into it, so it is absorbent.
   sponge is absorbent
3. Write the answer.
   sponge

Check. The other one is not absorbent, so only sponge is absorbent. ✓

Watch out. Test both things before you choose. Do not choose by the name or the colour.

Key words. Hard means it does not squash when you press it.

Method. Test each thing for this property, then put it in the right group.

1. Look at each thing. Ask: does it have this property?
   sponge, wooden block, cotton wool, stone
2. Put each thing in one group. Each thing goes in only one group.
   Hard: wooden block, stone. Soft: sponge, cotton wool.
3. Write the groups.
   Hard: wooden block, stone. Soft: sponge, cotton wool.

Check. Count the things in the groups. There are 4 in all. ✓

Watch out. Test each thing first. Do not sort by colour or size.

Method. Think about what a window must do, and what cardboard is like.

1. Think about a window. A window must let you see outside, so it must be see-through.
   window = see-through
2. Compare the two. Cardboard is not see-through, so you cannot see outside through it.
   cardboard: not see-through
3. Write the answer.
   Glass, because it is see-through.

Check. Look through glass to check it is see-through. ✓

Watch out. Choose the material that does the job. Check the property first.

Key words. Soft means it squashes when you press it.

Method. Test the sponge, then choose the word that fits it.

1. Test the sponge. Try it gently, or look at the picture.
   squashes
2. Choose the word that fits. It squashes when you press it, so it is soft.
   soft
3. Write the answer.
   soft

Check. Test it again the same way, and the word stays the same. ✓

Watch out. Test first, then choose the word. Do not guess from the name.

Key words. Rough means it has bumps that you can feel.

Method. Test the sandpaper, then choose the word that fits it.

1. Test the sandpaper. Try it gently, or look at the picture.
   bumpy
2. Choose the word that fits. It has bumps that you can feel, so it is rough.
   rough
3. Write the answer.
   rough

Check. Test it again the same way, and the word stays the same. ✓

Watch out. Test first, then choose the word. Do not guess from the name.

Key words. Shiny means it is bright and has a shine.

Method. Test the foil, then choose the word that fits it.

1. Test the foil. Try it gently, or look at the picture.
   bright shine
2. Choose the word that fits. It has a bright shine, so it is shiny.
   shiny
3. Write the answer.
   shiny

Check. Test it again the same way, and the word stays the same. ✓

Watch out. Test first, then choose the word. Do not guess from the name.

Key words. Bendy means it bends easily when you push or pull it.

Method. Test the plastic straw, then choose the word that fits it.

1. Test the plastic straw. Try it gently, or look at the picture.
   bends easily
2. Choose the word that fits. It bends easily when you push it, so it is bendy.
   bendy
3. Write the answer.
   bendy

Check. Test it again the same way, and the word stays the same. ✓

Watch out. Test first, then choose the word. Do not guess from the name.

Key words. See-through means you can see things through it.

Method. Test the clear plastic bag, then answer Yes or No.

1. Test the clear plastic bag. Try it gently, or look at the picture.
   the star can be seen
2. Answer yes or no. You can see the star through it, so it is see-through.
   Yes
3. Write the answer.
   Yes

Check. Test it again in the same way, and your answer is the same. ✓

Watch out. Answer from the test, not from what you think it might be.

Key words. Absorbent means it soaks up water.

Method. Test the towel, then answer Yes or No.

1. Test the towel. Try it gently, or look at the picture.
   water soaks in
2. Answer yes or no. Water soaks into it, so it is absorbent.
   Yes
3. Write the answer.
   Yes

Check. Test it again in the same way, and your answer is the same. ✓

Watch out. Answer from the test, not from what you think it might be.

Key words. Waterproof means water does not soak through or into it.

Method. Test each thing for this property, then put it in the right group.

1. Look at each thing. Ask: does it have this property?
   towel, rubber boot, cardboard box, clear plastic bag
2. Put each thing in one group. Each thing goes in only one group.
   Waterproof: rubber boot, clear plastic bag. Not waterproof: towel, cardboard box.
3. Write the groups.
   Waterproof: rubber boot, clear plastic bag. Not waterproof: towel, cardboard box.

Check. Count the things in the groups. There are 4 in all. ✓

Watch out. Test each thing first. Do not sort by colour or size.

Method. Think about which material keeps water out of your hands.

1. Look at the two gloves. A cotton glove soaks up water. A rubber glove does not let water soak in.
   cotton: absorbent; rubber: waterproof
2. Choose the glove that keeps hands dry. Rubber is waterproof, so it keeps the water out.
   rubber glove = waterproof
3. Write the answer.
   A rubber glove, because it is waterproof.

Check. Drip water on each one. Only the rubber one keeps the water on top. ✓

Watch out. Choose the material that does the job. Check the property first.

Method. Think about what a window must let you do.

1. Think about a window. A window must let you see outside.
   see outside
2. Test the metal tin. A metal tin is not see-through, so light cannot show you the outside.
   tin: not see-through
3. Write the answer.
   It is not see-through, so you cannot see outside through it.

Check. Hold a metal tin in front of a picture. You cannot see it. ✓

Watch out. A window must be see-through. Metal is not see-through.

Method. Think about how to find out which material soaks up water.

1. Think about the two materials. We need to test each one with water in the same way.
   same test for each
2. Plan the test. Drip water on each material and see whether the water soaks in.
   drip, then look
3. Write the answer.
   Drip water on each material and see whether the water soaks in.

Check. The material that soaks the water in is absorbent. ✓

Watch out. Use the same amount of water on each material, so the test is fair.