Hard or soft, shiny or dull

For grown-ups: this lesson in words

Years 1 and 2 · Science

Hard or soft, shiny or dull: I can describe materials with property words.

1. Here is a test. Press it. Does it squash?

   A brick and a metal spoon are hard.

   A sponge and a teddy bear squash. They are soft.

   Picture: Sorting into 2 groups: Hard: does not squash, Soft: squashes. Hard: does not squash: Brick, Metal spoon (spoon). Soft: squashes: Sponge, Teddy bear.

2. Your turn: Sort them: hard or soft? Tap a thing, then tap its group.

   Picture: Sorting into 2 groups: Hard: does not squash, Soft: squashes. Things to sort: Rock, Wool scarf (scarf), Metal key (key).

   Sort the cards into the groups.

   Answer

   The answer: Rock: Hard: does not squash; Wool scarf: Soft: squashes; Metal key: Hard: does not squash

   The rock and the metal key are hard.

   The wool scarf squashes. It is soft.

   Picture: Sorting into 2 groups: Hard: does not squash, Soft: squashes. Hard: does not squash: Rock, Metal key (key). Soft: squashes: Wool scarf (scarf).

3. Look at it in the light. Does it shine?

   A mirror and a metal spoon are shiny.

   A brick and a wool sock are dull.

   Picture: Sorting into 2 groups: Shiny: reflects light, Dull: does not shine. Shiny: reflects light: Mirror, Metal spoon (spoon). Dull: does not shine: Brick, Wool sock (sock).

Words to know

property:

A word that tells us what a material is like, such as hard or shiny.

waterproof:

Water runs off it. Water cannot soak in.

absorbent:

It soaks up water.

transparent:

You can see through it.

opaque:

You cannot see through it.

stretchy:

It gets longer when you pull it.