The term 'materials' is used to describe all the different things - the 'stuff' - that makes up our world. They include metal, plastic, wood, paper, glass, rock, water, air. Everything, including the clothes we wear and the food we eat, can be described as materials.
Different materials have different properties and behave in different ways - they can be hard, soft, rough, smooth, heavy, light, springy, firm, shiny or dull.
Giving children opportunities to look carefully at different materials, to sort and classify them and to investigate how they behave will help to build their understanding of the world.
Below is background knowledge that will help you to:
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