Materials for kids Primary School KS1 & KS2

Parent’s guide to learning about Materials in Primary School

Materials is an important part of primary science. Children learn what objects are made from, how materials behave, and why certain materials are chosen for particular jobs. As they move up the school, their understanding develops from simple identification to investigating properties and chemical changes.

This guide explains what your child will learn in each year group and how you can support them at home.

Year 1 & 2 (Key Stage 1)

In Key Stage 1, children begin by exploring the world around them.

What your child will learn:

An object is the thing you use (for example, a chair).
A material is what the object is made from (for example, wood or plastic).
Name common materials such as wood, plastic, glass, metal, rock, paper and water
Describe simple properties such as hard, soft, smooth, rough, bendy or waterproof
Compare materials and group them by their properties
Decide which materials are suitable for different uses
Explore how materials can change shape by squashing, bending, twisting and stretching

At this stage, learning is very hands-on. Children touch, observe and describe.

You can support learning by:

Ask, “What is this made from?” when looking at objects.
Sort household items by material.
Talk about why certain materials are used (e.g., “Why is this window made of glass?”).

Year 3 & 4 (Key Stage 2)

In Lower Key Stage 2, children build on their earlier knowledge and begin to look at materials more scientifically.

What your child will learn:

Children learn that materials can be solids, liquids or gases.
How materials change state when heated or cooled
Melting, freezing, evaporating and condensing
Measuring temperature in degrees Celsius (°C)
The water cycle and how evaporation and condensation are involved
Different types of rocks
Hard and soft rocks
Permeable and impermeable rocks
Fossils and how they form
Soil as a mixture of tiny rock particles and organic matter

Children begin making careful observations and identifying patterns.

You can support learning by:

Freeze water and observe it melting.
Boil water and discuss steam (safely!).
Look closely at different rocks in the garden or park.
Talk about why some rocks are used for building.

Year 5 & 6 (Key Stage 2)

In Upper Key Stage 2, learning becomes more detailed and investigative.

What your child will learn:

Comparing Materials by Properties, hardness, solubility, transparency, conductivity (electrical and thermal) and magnetism.
They learn to use evidence from fair tests to explain why materials are chosen for particular uses.
Some solids dissolve to form solutions
Dissolving is usually a reversible change
Mixtures can be separated by filtering, sieving or evaporating
Reversible and Irreversible Changes
Reversible changes (melting, freezing, dissolving)
Irreversible changes (burning, rusting, baking)
Chemical reactions that form new materials

They begin to understand the difference between physical and chemical changes.

You can support learning by:

Dissolve sugar in water and discuss what happens.
Separate sand and stones using a sieve.
Bake together and talk about how ingredients change permanently.
Ask your child to explain why certain materials are used for specific jobs.

Why learning about Materials matter

Understanding materials helps children make sense of the world around them. It explains:

Why buildings are made from certain substances
Why cooking changes ingredients
How recycling works
Why safety equipment uses specific materials
Materials science links closely to everyday life, engineering, environmental awareness and future technologies.