Materials
Year 1 · Science
Look closely, sort your discoveries and ask why things happen.
Choose a game
Take your time, try a game and collect stars.
Everyday materials: what is it made of?
Is a window made of glass, wood or metal? A free Year 1 science game about objects and the materials they are made from, with a printable game and worksheet.
Play Everyday materials: what is it made of?
Learning about materials
In this Year 1 science collection, you can practise Everyday materials: what is it made of?. Choose a game above for a short activity, or explore the examples below before you play. The full guide for each game explains its controls, gives more examples and includes a free printable for practice away from the screen.
Talk it through
Start with something you can observe. Ask your child to describe the evidence for a choice, then compare a second example. A game practises vocabulary and reasoning; practical observation and investigation matter too.
Ask: “What clue helped you decide?” Give your child time to explain. Return to an example after playing and ask whether they would approach it differently.
Everyday materials: what is it made of?
An object is a thing, such as a key, a window or a sock. A material is what the thing is made of, such as metal, glass or fabric. In Year 1, children learn to tell the difference between an object and its material, and to name everyday materials: wood, plastic, glass, metal, water and rock, plus paper and fabric.
Try an example: What material is a window pane made of?
A window pane is hard and you can see through it.
Show the answer
Glass.
What to look out for
Naming the object again instead of the material ("a window is made of window"). Practise the sentence "The ___ is made of ___" with real objects you can touch.
Practise away from the screen
- Go on a material hunt: find three things made of metal, three of wood and three of plastic.
Curriculum connections
These games support selected practice connected to Materials in the National Curriculum in England. Use your school’s sequence to decide when to introduce and revisit each skill. A game covers selected examples, rather than assessing every requirement.
Questions families ask
Where should we start with materials?
Start with Everyday materials: what is it made of?. Look at the worked example together, then try a round. If the task feels unfamiliar, use the full game guide or its free printable before trying again.
Does this cover everything taught at this level?
No. This collection brings together the games currently available for this learning area. It supports selected skills and does not replace the full programme of study or practical teaching.