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Which Material Is Best: Free Printable Worksheet for Year 1
- ForYear 1
- StageKey Stage 1
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Which Material Is Best is a free printable science worksheet for Year 1 (ages 5 to 6). Children test different materials to find out which would keep the rain out, record whether water goes through, and tick the best material for an umbrella. It needs a pencil, a tray and a little water. 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.
What is on the sheet
Children act as scientists choosing a cover for an umbrella. Page 1 has a table with three columns: the material, whether water goes through, and a tick for the best one. Children test each material, write what they find, then use the lines to explain their choice. It is a short, hands on way to practise testing, predicting and recording.
- Material
- Water goes through?
- Best (tick)
Set up the test
Gather your materials
Use the materials named on your sheet, or find similar scraps at home. Cut or tear pieces of the same size. An adult should do any cutting.
Make a catching tray
Put a tray or shallow baking dish on the table. Place each material over a dry cup or bowl set inside the tray. Spills stay in the tray, not on the floor.
Pour the same amount each time
Use a small spoon or cup. Pour the same amount of water on each material from the same height. This keeps the test fair.
Look underneath
Check below the material and feel it with a dry finger. Say what you see, then fill in the table. Dry each piece or use a fresh one before the next go.
Why test materials for an umbrella?
In Year 1, children learn that an object is made from a material, and that materials have properties. A material can be soft, stiff, stretchy, rough or smooth. It can also let water pass or stop it. Choosing the right material for a job means matching its properties to what the job needs.
An umbrella has one clear job: keep the rain off. That gives children a real reason to test. They can predict, pour water, look closely and then decide, rather than guess. Keeping the test fair is the key idea. Each material gets the same amount of water and the same size of piece.
Quick facts about rain and materials
- Rain is water that falls from clouds.
- Waterproof means water cannot pass through.
- An umbrella has a frame to hold it up and a cover to keep the rain off.
- Some materials soak up water. This is called being absorbent.
- People choose materials for a job because of how they behave, not just how they look.
Skills and curriculum link
- Testing
- Predicting
- Recording results
- Comparing materials
- Fair testing
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 | Everyday materials | Year 1 |
What children will be able to do
- I can test materials to see if water goes through.
- I can record what I find out.
- I can say which material is best for an umbrella.
Ideas to help the talk
- PropertiesA property describes how a material behaves. Ask, "What is this material like? Is it soft, smooth or stiff?"
- Fair testEverything stays the same except the material. Same amount of water, same size of piece, same height to pour from.
- Predict firstA prediction is a thought about what will happen. It is fine to be wrong. The test shows what is true.
- Match to the jobThe best material is the one that suits the job. Ask, "What must an umbrella cover do?"
Key words
- MaterialWhat an object is made from.
- WaterproofWater cannot get through it.
- AbsorbentIt soaks up water.
- PredictSay what you think will happen before you test it.
- Fair testKeep everything the same except the one thing you are testing.
- RecordWrite down what you find out.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers.
- Gather the materials, a tray and a little water. Set up the tray so spills stay in one place.
- Do the first material together. Ask your child to predict first, then pour the water and look underneath.
- Let your child test the rest and fill in the table. Talk about each choice as they go.
- Check with the notes and answers on page 2. Ask, "Why is that material a good choice for an umbrella?"
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Say the answer out loud before writing it. Test one material at a time and keep the rest out of the way. Use the words yes and no for the table. Point to the dry spot under the material to help your child see what happened.
To stretch confident children
Predict first, then check if you were right. Ask your child to explain why they thought so. Then find one new material at home, predict what will happen, test it fairly and add it to the table.
Make it a game
Make a small umbrella from the best material. An adult cuts it out. Tape it to a lolly stick or straw. Pour a little water over it above a tray. Does it keep a dry spot underneath?
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forThe test is not fair because different amounts of water go on each material.
Try thisUse the same spoon or cup each time. Pour from the same height and say, "Same water, same size."
Watch forA child decides by how a material looks and does not test it.
Try thisAsk them to predict, then pour the water. Compare the prediction with what happened.
Watch forA child only looks at the top of the material.
Try thisCheck underneath. Look for drips or wet patches in the cup or on a dry finger.
Watch forA child ticks the first material tested, not the best one.
Try thisLook at the whole table first. Ask, "Which one kept the water out the best?"
Talk about it
- What do you think will happen when the water lands on this material?
- How can we make sure the test is fair?
- What did you see underneath?
- Which material would you not choose for an umbrella? Why?
- Where else do we need to keep water out?
- What would you test next?
Take it off the page
Rain walk
On a rainy day, look at what people wear and carry. Talk about which materials are keeping them dry.
Material hunt
Walk around the home and name the materials you find. Sort them into ones you think would keep water out and ones you think would not. Then test a few.
Puddle paper
Drop a little water on different kinds of paper and watch what happens. Draw what you see and describe it in a sentence.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit with your child for the first test, then let them lead. Keep the water in a small cup and use a tray. Praise careful looking and clear thinking, not just the right answer.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, a practical table activity, a plenary or an early finisher task. It links to everyday materials and to working scientifically through testing and recording. Page 2 supports mixed ability groups.
Home educators
Print it as part of a wider science plan. It pairs well with a walk in the rain, books about weather and a hunt for materials around the house. Reprint it for brothers and sisters, or to revisit it later.
Where this fits
Before this, children name everyday objects and the materials they are made from. They also learn simple words for properties, such as hard, soft, rough or smooth. This sheet builds on that by asking children to test a property and use the result.
After this, children in Year 2 look at the uses of everyday materials. They compare how suitable different materials are for different jobs and explain their choices. Fair testing, predicting and recording will come up again in many topics.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- What did you do to make the test fair?
- Which material kept the water out, and which did not?
- Why is that material a good choice for an umbrella?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Which Material Is Best for?
It is written for Year 1 (ages 5 to 6), in Key Stage 1. It can also be used with slightly younger or older children who are enjoying hands on science, with a grown-up to help.
- What do I need besides the printout?
You need a pencil, a tray, a little water and some pieces of material to test. Use the materials named on your sheet, or similar scraps at home. A small cup or spoon helps with pouring.
- Does page 2 have answers?
Yes. Page 2 is for the grown-up. It 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 tested and recorded their own results.
- How do I make the test fair?
Use the same amount of water on each material, pour from the same height and cut the pieces to the same size. Change only the material. Fair testing is a key idea in science, and this is a simple way to try it.
- Can teachers use it in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task or table activity. It needs very little preparation beyond printing and gathering some materials and trays. It links to the everyday materials strand in Year 1 science.
- Is it a screen free activity?
Yes. It is a screen free printable that needs only paper and a pencil, plus a few materials and some water. It works well for quiet time, rainy days, weekends and school holidays.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. The sheet prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Colour is not needed to complete the activity, so it is cheap and easy to print again for other children.
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Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.