Material World*

This activity requires pupils to search for different types of materials around their home. Consider using a materials checklist to help the pupils record their findings, one such example can be found by clicking on the image.

To begin this activity, pupils will search for the various materials around their home. Once pupils identify where the material can be found, they will draw a picture to log their discovery. The next part of the activity invites pupils to paste in any samples of the materials where possible as shown in the image.

Suggested Questions:

• What do we use these materials for?

• Why is wood/metal/plastic/paper/fabric used for this item?

• What do these materials feel like? Are they hard or soft?

• Would you use any of these materials to keep you warm?

Wrapped in Mystery*

In this activity, pupils have an opportunity to develop the scientific skills of observation and prediction.

For the pupils to engage in this activity in the remote learning environment consider uploading the images with questions to the pupils' digital platform. Pupils could respond by using the voice recording feature or in written format. If conducting live lessons, these images could be shared on screen with teacher facilitating discussion around the pupils observations and predictions.

Invite your pupils to look at an image of a lunchbox (see example) using their STEM eyes.

• What do you see?

• How do you know it is an apple/orange/etc.?

• What colours/shapes do you see?

• What materials do you recognise?

• Are any of the foods wrapped? Why?

• What's inside the tinfoil? How do you know?

Wrap some items in tinfoil and share the images with your pupils (see examples on the right). Invite the pupils to make predictions based on their observations. The pupils (like scientists) make observations and come up with explanations for what they think the item is.

• What do you notice about this item?

• What shape is it?

• What do you think this mystery object is? Why?

Pupils can record their predictions by drawing a picture. See the carousel of images on the right for pupil work samples.

The focus is not on getting the correct answer but on developing the pupils' scientific skills. Therefore, consider not sharing the image of the unwrapped item to reveal the correct answer.

A Handful of Textures

In this activity, pupils have an opportunity to describe and compare different types of paper noting the differences in texture between them.

Consider using the Fuzzy Friend zoom in, zoom out task (linked in the image on the right) as a stimulus to introduce this activity. Follow the suggested approach as outlined on the Explorify website, but with a particular emphasis on the textures in the image.

Gather a variety of paper with various textures e.g. kitchen paper, grease proof paper, cardboard, etc. Invite the pupils to explore the paper with a focus on it's texture. Subsequently, distribute the worksheet to the pupils and ask them to sort the paper according to the texture. Encourage pupils to explain the reasoning behind their sorting choices.

• What textures did you find?

• Have you any rough/smooth pieces?

• Which texture do you prefer? Why?

A Handful of Textures activity sheet can be accessed by clicking on the image. A blank hand template is available here also which you may wish to edit accordingly.