KS1 Materials Science Lesson – Distinguish Between Objects and Materials (SEND Friendly)

A practical KS1 science lesson designed to help children distinguish between an object and the material it is made from.

This SEND-friendly lesson focuses on hands-on exploration, discussion and sorting activities rather than written work.

Children identify and name common materials before sorting everyday objects by what they are made from.

Includes visual resources and practical activities to support all learners.

This KS1 science lesson supports children in distinguishing between an object and the material it is made from, in line with the Year 1 National Curriculum.

The lesson uses a concrete-first approach, encouraging children to handle, explore and discuss real objects before categorising them by material.

Designed to support inclusive classrooms and SEND learners, the activities prioritise talk, exploration and visual support rather than written recording.

Learning objective
Distinguish between an object and the material it is made from.

Key vocabulary
wood
metal
plastic
fabric
hard
soft
bendy
rigid
shiny

Activities include
• Identifying and naming common materials
• Sorting objects by material
• Matching objects to material labels
• Talking about how we know what materials objects are made from
• Exploring textures and properties through hands-on activities

Included in this resource
• Lesson guidance page
• Object picture cards
• Material label cards
• Sorting mats
• Texture vocabulary cards
• Sentence stems to support explanation

Ideal for
KS1
Year 1 science
SEND learners
Practical science lessons
Concrete-first learning approaches