Grade 1 · Science · Unit 3 of 7
Materials
What is it made of?
What your child practises
Describing materials (hard, soft, see-through, waterproof) and choosing the best material for a job, like a raincoat or a window.
Nunavut Curriculum approved guide: NWT Science and Technology K–6 (2004), Physical science · matter, its properties and how they suit materials to jobs
Sample questions
A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.
Question 1
Which keeps your feet dry in a puddle?
- 🦶bare feet
- 👢rubber boots
- 🧦cotton socks
👢 rubber boots
Hint: Rubber is waterproof. It keeps water out!
Question 2
What is the best material for a raincoat?
🌧️- 👕cotton, like a T-shirt
- 📄paper
- 🧥waterproof plastic
🧥 waterproof plastic
Hint: A raincoat must keep water out. Waterproof plastic does that!
Question 3
Which one is made of more than one material?
- ✏️pencil with an eraser
- 🧊ice cube
- 🪨rock
✏️ pencil with an eraser
Hint: A pencil has wood, a dark middle, a metal band and an eraser.
Question 4
Is it hard or soft? Tap an item, then tap its basket.
Sort into: 🔨 hard · ☁️ soft
- 🧱brick
- 🪙coin
- 🧽sponge
- 🧤mittens
- 🐚shell
- 🧣scarf
🔨 hard: brick, coin, shell · ☁️ soft: sponge, mittens, scarf
Hint: Press it in your mind. Soft things squish. Hard things don't.
Question 5
Why is a cooking pot made of metal?
- 🍳it won't burn on the stove
- 👀it is see-through
- 🧸it is soft and fluffy
🍳 it won't burn on the stove
Hint: Metal is strong and can get very hot without burning.
Question 6
Which is best for a cozy, warm blanket?
🛏️- 🪵hard wood
- 🔩metal
- 🧶soft wool
🧶 soft wool
Hint: A blanket should be soft and warm. Wool is both!