Science · Colouring and writing worksheet
Everyday Materials Worksheet: What Is It Made From? (Free KS1 Science)
Everything around us is made from a material. A chair might be an object, but the material it is made from could be wood. This free worksheet helps children aged 5 to 7 begin to separate those two ideas, which is one of the first big concepts in Year 1 Science.
Print it on a single sheet of A4, hand over the colouring pencils, and let your child colour, talk about and name four familiar objects. It works beautifully at home or as a quick classroom warm-up, with no preparation needed beyond a printer.
What Is It Made From?
Free Science worksheet · Ages 5 to 7
Activity 1
Colour in the four objects. Try to use a sensible colour for each one, for example brown for the wooden chair.
- Colour the wooden chair brown.
- Colour the plastic bucket a bright colour, such as blue or red.
- Colour the drinking glass with a light blue, leaving it see-through.
- Colour the metal spoon grey or silver.
Activity 2
Look at each object. Write the material it is made from on the line. Use the word box to help you.
The chair is made from
The bucket is made from
The drinking glass is made from
The spoon is made from
What Is It Made From?owee.worldAnswer key
- The chair is made from — wood
- The bucket is made from — plastic
- The drinking glass is made from — glass
- The spoon is made from — metal
Telling an object apart from its material
One of the trickiest ideas for young children in Year 1 Science is that an object (the thing itself) is not the same as the material (what it is made from). A spoon is an object; the metal it is made from is the material. The same material can be used to make many different objects, and the same object can sometimes be made from different materials. Encouraging your child to finish the sentence "This is made from..." for everyday things builds this distinction naturally over time.
The everyday materials children should know
By the end of Year 1, children are expected to identify and name a variety of everyday materials, including wood, plastic, glass, metal, water and rock. This worksheet focuses on the four solid materials children meet most often around the house: wood, plastic, glass and metal. Pointing at objects during the day and asking what they are made from is one of the simplest ways to reinforce these words.
How to use this worksheet at home or school
Start by looking at the four pictures together and naming each object out loud: chair, bucket, glass, spoon. Then talk about what each one is made from before your child writes the material on the lines. The word box at the bottom is there as a gentle prompt, so children who are still learning to spell can copy the correct word. Colouring the pictures gives slower writers thinking time and keeps the activity calm and enjoyable.
Talking about why materials are chosen
Once your child is confident naming materials, you can stretch the conversation a little. Ask why a drinking glass is made from glass and not wood, or why a bucket is made from plastic rather than metal. This gentle questioning introduces the idea that materials have properties, such as being see-through, waterproof, strong or bendy, which is explored more deeply later in Year 2 and beyond.
Frequently asked questions
What age is this everyday materials worksheet for?
It is designed for children aged 5 to 7 (Year 1 and into Year 2), matching the KS1 Science topic on everyday materials. Confident younger children and those needing a little revision will also find it useful.
Which materials does the worksheet cover?
It focuses on the four solid everyday materials children meet most often: wood, plastic, glass and metal. The full Year 1 list also includes water and rock, which you can discuss alongside the sheet.
What is the difference between an object and a material?
An object is the thing itself, such as a spoon or a chair. The material is what it is made from, such as metal or wood. Telling these apart is a key Year 1 Science objective and the main aim of this worksheet.
Is this printable free and how do I print it?
Yes, it is completely free. Print it on a single sheet of A4 from your browser. No login or sign-up is needed, and there is nothing to assemble.
Does this match the National Curriculum?
Yes. It supports the Year 1 'everyday materials' objectives, helping children distinguish an object from its material and name common everyday materials such as wood, plastic, glass and metal.
Curriculum links
- Year 1 Science (Everyday materials): distinguish between an object and the material from which it is made.
- Year 1 Science (Everyday materials): identify and name a variety of everyday materials, including wood, plastic, glass, metal, water, and rock.
- Year 1 Science (Everyday materials): describe the simple physical properties of a variety of everyday materials.
- Working scientifically (KS1): observe closely and identify and classify everyday objects and the materials they are made from.
Made by The Owee education team. Updated 02/06/2026. Free to print and share.
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