Lesson 1: Waterproof materials

Pupils investigate and learn about waterproof materials. They conduct a test in groups and observe what happens when they pour water through various samples before reporting back to the class what they discovered.

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  6. Lesson 1: Waterproof materials

Learning objectives

  • To understand what waterproof means and to test whether materials are waterproof. 

EYFS outcomes

Communication and language

  • Articulate their ideas and thoughts in well-formed sentences.
  • Connect one idea or action to another using a range of connectives.
  • Use talk to help work out problems and organise thinking and activities, and to explain how things work and why they might happen.
  • ELG: Speaking: Participate in small group, class and one-to-one discussions, offering their own ideas, using recently introduced vocabulary
  • ELG: Speaking: Offer explanations for why things might happen. 

Understanding the world

  • Explore the natural world around them.
  • ELG: The Natural World: Explore the natural world around them, making observations and drawing pictures of animals and plants

Characteristics of effective learning

> Playing and exploring

> Active learning

> Creating and thinking critically

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Before the lesson

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Classroom resources

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Activity

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Teacher notes

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Key vocabulary

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Prompts for learning

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Observations

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Next steps

To test and make predictions for which materials float or sink. 

Note any specific next steps for individual pupils.

In this topic

Created by:
Sophie Pickles (EYFS),  
Design and technology specialist
Sophie is an expert Early Years consultant. She has spent many years both teaching in Reception and leading, in her role of Head of Early Years and senior manager at an outstanding-rated, child-led setting. Sophie now works with many national educational…
Find out more

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Lesson 6: Creating and testing boats

Lesson 4: Investigating boats

Lesson 5: Designing boats

Lesson 3: Boats

Lesson 1: Waterproof materials Previous Lesson
Lesson 2: Floating and sinking Next Lesson
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