How a visit to Killhope can inspire

UNIT 1C: SORTING AND USING MATERIALS
Using Killhope: Killhope provides an excellent real-life context for this unit. Children can touch the
minerals in the Mineral Room, and work to sort them just like the children in the nineteenth century.
They can see how they are used, and discuss why different materials have been chosen for
different reasons. This hands-on approach will encourage the children to take part.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES POSSIBLE ACTIVITIES LEARNING OUTCOMES
• That every material has
many properties, which can
be recognised using our
senses, and described using
appropriate vocabulary.
• To record observations of
materials.
Handling different materials
• Ask the children to handle
a variety of objects on the
siite and ask them to
describe and record them.
Identifying materials without looking
• Use words, eg hard, shiny,
rough to describe
materials and objects.
• To ask questions and to
explore materials and
objects using appropriate
senses, making observations
and communicating these.
• That there are many
materials and these can be
named and described.
• Ask children what senses
they could use to find out
what objects are like.
Encourage them to use
their other senses to
identify material, eg this is
lead because it is heavy,
this is fabric because…
Describing different materials
• Present the children with a
collection of familiar
materials, eg wood, metal,
grass, talk to them about
the materials and name
them. Ask the children to
find other objects made of
the same material on site –
there are so many to find!
• Ask suitable questions
about objects.
• Describe materials in
terms of senses: eg this
feels smooth
• Name several common
materials and describe
them using terms, eg
rough, hard shiny.
• Identify different objects
made of the same material
and name the material.
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