Science·Matter & Materials·conceptual
Choosing the Right Material
Identify and compare the suitability of everyday materials for particular uses, explaining why specific materials are chosen for specific purposes
Suggested ages 6–8
Learning journey
Your child is exploring how materials behave — investigating how solid objects can be changed by bending, twisting, or stretching, and learning why different materials are chosen for different jobs.
Evidence of understanding
- Explain why a specific material is chosen for a purpose based on its properties (e.g. glass for windows because it's transparent)
- Compare two materials and decide which is more suitable for a given use with reasoning
- Suggest an alternative material for an object and explain why it would or wouldn't work
Assessment prompt
Can Choosing the Right Material explain why windows are made of glass and not wood, or why wellies are made of rubber and not paper?
Standards alignment
2-PS1-2US · ngss-k5
2-PS1-2
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) K-5
Y2.Sci.UEM.1GB · uk-nc-2013
Suitability of everyday materials
The national curriculum in England: Key stages 1 and 2 framework document · Key Stage 1