Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Waterproof Test Chart: Free Printable Worksheet for Year 2
- ForYear 2
- StageKey Stage 1
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Waterproof Test Chart is a free printable science worksheet for Year 2 (ages 6 to 7). Children guess which materials will keep water out, test them, and fill in a chart to show what happened. The big question is which material keeps a teddy dry. Page 2 gives the grown-up notes, help ideas, a stretch task and the answers.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well. You will also need a small cup, some materials to test, water and a tray.
What is on the sheet
Children use a table with three columns: Material, My guess and Did it stay dry? First they make a guess for each material. Then they test it by covering a small cup with the material, pouring on a little water and checking whether the inside stays dry. Last, they record what really happened. Comparing a guess with a result is the heart of the sheet. Children also think about which material would suit an umbrella.
- Material
- My guess
- Did it stay dry?
Setting up the test
Gather your materials
Choose a few everyday materials that are safe to handle and easy to cover a cup with. Cut each piece a little bigger than the top of the cup. Adults should do any cutting.
Cover the cup
Stretch the material across the top of a small cup. Hold it firmly in place, for example with an elastic band. Use the same size of cup each time.
Pour with care
Stand the cup on a tray. Pour a small, equal amount of water onto the material each time. Pouring slowly makes it easier to watch what happens.
Look inside
Lift the material or peek into the cup. Is the inside dry or wet? Then tick or write the result on the chart straight away, before you move on.
Why test materials for waterproofing?
In Year 2, children learn that everyday objects are made from different materials, and that each material is chosen because of what it is like. A material that is waterproof does not let water pass through it. A material that is not waterproof lets water soak in or go through. Choosing the right material for a job, such as keeping rain off, is a useful idea in science and in daily life.
Testing is how scientists find out whether a guess was right. Children predict first, then test, then record. Writing results in a chart makes them easier to compare. A fair test means keeping most things the same, such as the cup, the amount of water and the place it is poured, and changing only the material. This sheet gives Year 2 children a first go at working this way.
Do the test over a tray and keep it away from electrical items and important papers. Use only a small amount of water. Wipe up spills straight away so the floor does not get slippery. Adults should do any cutting of materials.
Rain and materials facts
- Waterproof means water cannot get through.
- Raincoats and umbrellas are made to keep rain off the person using them.
- Different materials are used for different jobs because they are not all the same.
- Rain falls from clouds.
- A fair test changes only one thing and keeps the rest the same.
Skills and curriculum link
- Testing
- Predicting
- Recording results
- Comparing materials
- Fair testing
- Explaining ideas
This sheet supports the area below. It is matched to the published England framework. Please check it against your own school plan.
| Framework | Subject or area | Strand | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Curriculum (England) | Science | Uses of everyday materials | Year 2 |
What children will be able to do
- I can test which materials keep water out.
- I can record my results in a chart.
- I can say which material is best for an umbrella.
Ideas for helping children think like scientists
- Guess firstAsk your child to say or write a guess before any water is poured. Then ask why they think so. There are no wrong guesses, only ideas to check.
- Keep it fairUse the same cup and the same amount of water each time. Ask your child what needs to stay the same so the test is fair.
- Use your sensesAsk what the material looks and feels like before and after the water. Does it feel the same? Does it look different?
- Record straight awayFill in the chart as soon as each test is finished. Results written down at once are easier to trust than results remembered later.
Key words
- MaterialWhat something is made from.
- WaterproofDoes not let water pass through.
- PredictSay what you think will happen before you test it.
- TestTry something out to find out what happens.
- Fair testA test where you change only one thing and keep everything else the same.
- RecordWrite down what you found out so you can look at it later.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for the child. Keep page 2 for the grown-up.
- Cover a small cup with the material, pour a little water on it and see if the inside stays dry. Do this on a tray.
- Work through the activity together the first time. Talk about each choice.
- Check against the notes on page 2 and the answers.
- Come back to it another day. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Test one material together and talk about what you see. Ask your child to touch the outside of the cup, then look inside. Say the word wet or dry out loud. When they feel confident, try another material and fill in one line of the chart.
To stretch confident children
Ask which material would make the best umbrella and why. Encourage a reason that uses words from the test, such as kept the water out or let water through. Then ask what else an umbrella needs, for example being light enough to carry.
Make it a game
Make a small raincoat for a toy from the best material. Adults should help with any cutting. Then test it: stand the toy on a tray, pour a little water over it and check underneath. Talk about what you would change next time.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forEach material gets a different amount of water, so the results cannot be compared.
Try thisUse the same spoon or small cup of water every time. Say together, "Is that fair?" before each pour.
Watch forA child writes the guess after seeing the result.
Try thisFill in the My guess column for every material first. Fold the page or cover the last column until the testing begins.
Watch forA child only looks at the outside of the cup and says it is dry.
Try thisAsk them to check the inside. Putting a small piece of tissue inside the cup can make any water easier to spot.
Talk about it
- What did you think would happen before you poured the water?
- Which result surprised you most?
- How did you make your test fair?
- What do you notice when you compare the materials on your chart?
- Where have you seen waterproof things being used?
- What would you test next if you had one more material?
Take it off the page
Rain gear hunt
Look around the house for things that keep rain off, such as coats, boots or an umbrella. Talk about what each one is made from and why that might suit the job.
Design an umbrella
Draw an umbrella for a toy or a family pet. Label the material you would choose and write one reason for your choice.
Rainy day window watch
On a rainy day, watch from a window. Look at what water does when it lands on different surfaces, such as glass, leaves or a car roof. Describe it in your own words.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first test, then let them lead. Gather the cup, tray and materials before you start so the activity flows. Ask them to explain their results in their own words.
Teachers
Use it as a starter or table activity within a unit on everyday materials. It works well in small groups, with one child pouring and one recording. Page 2 gives support, stretch and answers for mixed ability groups.
Home educators
Pair it with a walk in the rain or a look at the coats and boots by your door. The test uses everyday items, so it fits easily into a wider science plan. Print it again for brothers and sisters or for a repeat later.
Where this fits in science
In Year 1, children name everyday materials and describe simple properties, such as hard, soft, bendy or shiny. They also sort materials into groups. That gives them the words they need to talk about what they see in this test.
In Year 2, they compare how suitable different materials are for different jobs. Later, children meet more detailed ideas about the properties of materials and how to plan fair tests with more care.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- Which material kept the water out best?
- How did you make your test fair?
- Why would you not make a raincoat from paper?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Waterproof Test Chart for?
It is written for Year 2 (ages 6 to 7) in Key Stage 1. Younger children can try it with an adult doing most of the writing. Older children can use it as an easy way into fair testing.
- What do I need to do the test?
You need a small cup, a few everyday materials to cover it, some water, a tray and a pencil. Pour the water over the tray so any spills stay tidy, and use the same amount each time.
- Does the sheet include answers?
Yes. Page 2 is for the grown-up and has notes on how to use the sheet, help for children who find it hard, a stretch idea and the answers. Keep it back until your child has finished testing.
- What does waterproof mean?
Waterproof means a material does not let water pass through it. A raincoat is a common example of something that needs to be waterproof. In the test, children check whether the inside of the cup stays dry.
- What if my child finds it hard?
Test one material together and talk about what you see. Let your child feel the outside and look inside the cup. Once they have the idea, they can try another material by themselves.
- Is it suitable for use in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing and gathering a few simple materials.
- Is this a screen free activity?
Yes. It is a screen free printable that needs only paper, a pencil and a few things from around the house. It works well for quiet time, rainy days and school holidays.
More like this
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.