Year 1 Science: Rough and smooth
Part of the Year 1 Science properties of materials chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page · Download worksheet (PDF) · Answers (PDF)
Rough and smooth
Feel a thing with your fingers. A rough thing has bumps or scratchy bits. Sandpaper is rough, and so is a brick. A smooth thing is flat and even. You cannot feel any bumps. A plastic plate is smooth.
Which one is rough? Which one is smooth?
Key ideas
- A rough thing has bumps that you can feel.
- A smooth thing is flat and even.
- You can test this by feeling with your fingers.
- Some things look smooth but feel rough.
Key words. Rough means it has bumps that you can feel.
Method. Test the sandpaper, then choose the word that fits it.
- Test the sandpaper. Try it gently, or look at the picture.bumpy
- Choose the word that fits. It has bumps that you can feel, so it is rough.rough
- 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. Smooth means it is flat and even, with no bumps.
Method. Test both things, then find the one that is smooth.
- Look at both things. Test each one in the same way.sandpaper or plastic plate
- Find the one that is smooth. It is flat and even, with no bumps, so it is smooth.plastic plate is smooth
- Write the answer. plastic plate
Check. The other one is rough, so only plastic plate is smooth. ✓
Watch out. Test both things before you choose. Do not choose by the name or the colour.
Key words. Rough means it has bumps that you can feel.
Method. Test both things, then find the one that is rough.
- Look at both things. Test each one in the same way.metal spoon or brick
- Find the one that is rough. It has bumps that you can feel, so it is rough.brick is rough
- Write the answer. brick
Check. The other one is smooth, so only brick is rough. ✓
Watch out. Test both things before you choose. Do not choose by the name or the colour.
Watch out
Watch out: a thing can look smooth and still feel rough. Shut your eyes and feel it. Do not decide from how it looks.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Let your child feel a few things with their eyes shut and say “rough” or “smooth”. Ask: “How do you know?”
Try it at home (with a grown-up)
Put a metal spoon, a piece of sandpaper and a plastic plate in a bag or box with a lid. Your child shuts their eyes, feels each thing, and says “rough” or “smooth”. Then check by looking.
Exercise 8B Rough and smooth
Key words. Rough means it has bumps that you can feel.
Method. Test the sandpaper, then choose the word that fits it.
- Test the sandpaper. Try it gently, or look at the picture.bumpy
- Choose the word that fits. It has bumps that you can feel, so it is rough.rough
- 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. Smooth means it is flat and even, with no bumps.
Method. Test the plastic plate, then choose the word that fits it.
- Test the plastic plate. Try it gently, or look at the picture.flat and even
- Choose the word that fits. It is flat and even, with no bumps, so it is smooth.smooth
- Write the answer. smooth
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 brick, then choose the word that fits it.
- Test the brick. Try it gently, or look at the picture.bumpy
- Choose the word that fits. It has bumps that you can feel, so it is rough.rough
- 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. Smooth means it is flat and even, with no bumps.
Method. Test the metal spoon, then choose the word that fits it.
- Test the metal spoon. Try it gently, or look at the picture.flat and even
- Choose the word that fits. It is flat and even, with no bumps, so it is smooth.smooth
- Write the answer. smooth
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.
- Test the sandpaper. Try it gently, or look at the picture.bumpy
- Choose the word that fits. It has bumps that you can feel, so it is rough.rough
- 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. Rough means it has bumps that you can feel.
Method. Test the brick, then choose the word that fits it.
- Test the brick. Try it gently, or look at the picture.bumpy
- Choose the word that fits. It has bumps that you can feel, so it is rough.rough
- 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. Smooth means it is flat and even, with no bumps.
Method. Test the plastic plate, then choose the word that fits it.
- Test the plastic plate. Try it gently, or look at the picture.flat and even
- Choose the word that fits. It is flat and even, with no bumps, so it is smooth.smooth
- Write the answer. smooth
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. Smooth means it is flat and even, with no bumps.
Method. Test both things, then find the one that is smooth.
- Look at both things. Test each one in the same way.metal spoon or brick
- Find the one that is smooth. It is flat and even, with no bumps, so it is smooth.metal spoon is smooth
- Write the answer. metal spoon
Check. The other one is rough, so only metal spoon is smooth. ✓
Watch out. Test both things before you choose. Do not choose by the name or the colour.
Method. Think about what Ruby says and what a metal spoon feels like.
- Look at what Ruby says. Ruby says a metal spoon is rough.Ruby: spoon is rough
- Feel the spoon. A metal spoon is flat and even, with no bumps. So it is smooth.spoon: smooth
- Write the answer. No. A metal spoon is smooth.
Check. Feel the spoon with your eyes shut. No bumps. ✓
Watch out. A spoon can be smooth even though it is hard. Check each property on its own.
Key words. Rough means it has bumps that you can feel.
Method. Test each thing for this property, then put it in the right group.
- Look at each thing. Ask: does it have this property?brick, plastic plate, sandpaper, metal spoon
- Put each thing in one group. Each thing goes in only one group.Rough: brick, sandpaper. Smooth: plastic plate, metal spoon.
- Write the groups. Rough: brick, sandpaper. Smooth: plastic plate, metal spoon.
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. Make a prediction first, then plan a fair test.
- Make a prediction. A prediction is a sensible guess before you test.The sandpaper will feel rough, and the plate will feel smooth.
- Plan the test. Test each thing in the same way, so the test is fair.Close your eyes, feel each one, one at a time, and say what you feel.
- Write the answer. The sandpaper will feel rough and the plate will feel smooth. Feel each one with your eyes shut to check.
Check. Feel both with your eyes shut and check the answer. ✓
Watch out. Make your guess before you test. Then check what really happens.
Method. Think about what scratchy means.
- Read what Mei felt. Mei rubs her hand on the sandpaper. It feels scratchy.sandpaper: scratchy
- Find the word that means scratchy. Scratchy things have bumps, so they are rough.scratchy = rough
- Write the answer. rough
Check. Rub your hand on sandpaper. It is rough. ✓
Watch out. Scratchy and bumpy both mean rough.
Method. Think about how you can feel the difference with your fingers.
- Use your fingers. Your fingers can feel bumps.feel for bumps
- Decide what each feeling means. Bumps mean rough. Flat and even means smooth.bumps = rough; flat = smooth
- Write the answer. Feel it with your fingers. Rough things have bumps you can feel. Smooth things feel flat and even.
Check. Try it with your eyes shut on two things. ✓
Watch out. Look at the thing last. Feel it first, so that you do not guess.