The Science of Materials allows us to find out what stuff is made of and their properties. It determines what we use for what purpose, ie. not using chocolate to make teapots or concrete to make trampolines!

The activity described in the worksheet below allows KS2 students to test a variety of materials and record the properties of each of a range of samples. This is the activity that our Waste Education Team deliver on our Free School Trips.

Material scientists use the properties of materials to sort out recycling too – find out how in the video below about Material Recycling Facilities – see if you can spot all of the properties used to sort out different materials into clean streams for recycling into new stuff.

Downloadable Worksheet

Video Link to Properties of Materials