Beginner
30 mins
Teacher/Student led
+70 XP
Teacher-led from the board — pupils need no device

Sorting Our Materials

Look at classroom objects and sort them into wood, plastic or metal groups. Feel and look closely to decide where each one belongs. Tell a friend why and draw your groups in your journal.

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    Observation
    Sorting classifying
    Picture sort

    1 - Getting Started ~2 mins

    The actual tray of classroom objects the class will sort todayThere is a tray of things from our classroom to look at today. Some feel hard and cold. Some feel light. Some look shiny.

    Can we put the ones that are made of the same stuff together?

    2 - Look and Wonder ~3 mins

    Look closely. Touch gently if your teacher says you may.

    What do you notice? What do you think each thing is made of?

    3 - Sort the Tray ~10 mins

    The hoop apparatus with objects grouped by material, so sorting is clearWe have three hoops on the carpet. One hoop is for wood, one is for plastic, and one is for metal.

    You each have an object to hold. Look at it and feel it gently while you wait for your turn. Then put it in the hoop for the material it is made of.

    4 - Sort the Pictures ~5 mins

    Now we will sort pictures on the board.

    Listen to the question: What is it made of? Help put each picture in the wood, plastic or metal hoop.

    What is it made of?

    5 - Show and Draw ~6 mins

    Three material groups with the objects that belong in each, for drawingOn your sorting page, draw one thing in the wood group, one in the plastic group and one in the metal group.

    Pupil practice · Investigation Journal
    Module 2 · Materials: What Things Are Made of and How They Change
    Lesson 11 · Sorting Our Materials
    Download Investigation Journal sheet (PDF)
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