Hi,

It’s a long time since we posted for a new addition to our Show and Tell series.

It is one of our most read series. You can find it as a separate section under “Art & Craft” category on our homepage. In case you want to see more of these posts, click here.

Today we are covering the topic: Different Materials.

We are not discussing in-depth the properties of the different materials or which of them are better or worse. We are touching upon the materials we see daily around us and how are they useful to us.

This show and tell is kept simple and quick to make.

Topic: Different materials

My daughter made the heading using alphabet stickers. See the following chart.

Given below the chart, are simple sentences your child could learn for their show and tell.

Materials

Materials are substances we can use to make things. From stones to metals to fabrics to plastics, we can use them for different tasks.

Our Chart – 1

Metals plastic wood

Metals

There are many different types of metals. Iron, Copper and Tin are the most common metals found on earth. Gold and Silver are also metals. They can be changed into many different forms and hence find many uses in our daily life.

Metals

Examples: Cars, Trains, wires, coins, safety pins, hair pins, tin boxes, buttons.

Did you know? Metals can be mixed with each other to create a new material. This is called an Alloy.

Plastic

Plastics

Plastics are very commonly used materials and they are man-made. They also come in various sizes, shapes and weights. Examples: Plastic bags, Beads, Bottles, Toys, Straws, Buttons, Googly eyes, stickers.

Did you know? Plastic melts when heated.

Wood

wood

Wood is naturally formed in trees. The tree branches and trunk are wood. Most of our furniture is built from wood. We can build a fire using wood. Other examples: Pencils, clips, spoons, Cricket bats, Hockey sticks.

Did you know? A material that burns is called “Flammable”.

Our Chart 2

Paper Rubber

Paper

Paper can be in different sizes, thickness, shapes and colors. It is made from wood. All our storybooks, newspapers and notebooks are made of paper. It is used in our arts and crafts to make beautiful things or express ourselves. As we can print or write on paper, it is used as Money or currency.

paper

Did you know? Origami is the Japanese word for paper folding. ORI means to fold and KAMI means paper. Together, they form the word, “origami.” Using Origami one can make many beautiful animals, shapes, puppets using only paper.

Rubber

Rubber-2

When we say Rubber we think immediately of rubber bands and erasers but Rubber has many more uses. Car tyres, Rubber stamps, waterproof shoes, swimming caps and garden hoses to name a few.

Did you know? The natural rubber is obtained from trees and the synthetic rubber is man-made in chemical factories.

 Cloth

cloth

Different types of fabrics are used for different types of clothing. Some common natural clothing materials are: Fabric made of cotton and Wool from the sheep. Fabrics are used to make shoes, bags, dresses, shoe laces, curtains, ribbons and even puppets. 
Did you know? Cotton candy is not made from cotton but from sugar. It is called as such because it looks like cotton wool.
Glassceramicstone
You could explore many more materials like glass, ceramics, stone etc.
Here’s a game you can play with your kids.
Collect objects made of different materials and keep in a common basket. Make placards with the names of the materials. Then ask your kids to sort your collection under each placard. You can introduce them to interesting details about each type of material.
Have fun. Here’s a nice video you could show the kids. Click here.
And don’t forget to let me know if you liked our show and tell post.
Also if you did, please share with your friends and family.
Love,
Poornima
Image credit: Morguefile