Foundation Materials and Properties Activities

Australian Curriculum Alignment

What Students Will Learn

• Identify common materials such as wood, metal, plastic, glass, paper and fabric.
• Recognise that some objects are made from more than one material.
• Describe materials using words such as hard, soft, rough, smooth, flexible and shiny.
• Use tools such as magnifying glasses to make detailed observations.
• Sort and group materials by observable properties.
• Explain why different parts of objects are made from different materials.

Teaching Activities

1. What Is It Made Of?

Provide familiar classroom objects and ask students to identify the materials used in each one.

2. One Object, Many Materials

Investigate pencils, shoes, saucepans and umbrellas to find objects made from more than one material.

3. Magnifying Glass Observation

Use magnifying glasses to observe fabric, wood, paper, leaves and rocks closely.

4. Sort by Properties

Sort samples into groups such as hard/soft, rough/smooth, flexible/stiff and shiny/dull.

5. Materials Scavenger Hunt

Find or photograph objects made from wood, metal, plastic, glass, paper and fabric.

6. Right Material for the Job

Discuss why windows use glass, jumpers use fabric and saucepan bases use metal.

7. First Nations Materials

Explore how First Nations Australians combine natural materials to make useful objects for specific purposes.

Questions to Ask Students

• What is this object made from?
• How does the material feel?
• Is it hard, soft, rough or smooth?
• Can it bend?
• Why was this material chosen?
• Could another material do the same job?

Simple Assessment Ideas

• Observe students during practical activities and discussions.
• Ask students to draw, match, sort, point, demonstrate or explain.
• Use a short exit task linked to the curriculum code.
• Allow an adult to record a child's spoken response when needed.
• Look for correct use of simple science vocabulary.

Supporting Different Learners

Additional support

• Use real objects, photographs and simple picture cards.
• Model one step at a time.
• Provide sentence starters and two-choice questions.
• Allow students to respond by pointing, matching, drawing or speaking.

Extension

• Ask students to explain the reason for their choice.
• Invite students to compare two examples.
• Ask students to record observations in a table or labelled drawing.
• Encourage students to create and share a new question.

AC9SFU03 Worksheets and Teaching Resources

View the complete collection of teacher slides, student practice pages, revision activities and printable worksheets for AC9SFU03.

Topic Summary

AC9SFU03 supports Foundation students through practical, age-appropriate science experiences. Use real objects, discussion, observation, drawing, sorting and simple recording tasks to build confidence and understanding.