• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Menu
  • Science Experiments For Kids
  • Science Fair Projects
  • Science Facts
  • Science Questions
  • About
    • Emma Vanstone
    • About Science Sparks
Science Experiments for Kids
Menu
  • STEM Challenges
    • STEM Challenges
    • FREE STEM Challenge Templates
  • Early Years Science
    • Preschool Science
    • Sensory and Messy Play
    • Understanding of the World
    • Pirate Science Experiments
  • Primary Science
    • Baking Soda Experiments
    • Candy Experiments
    • Biology
    • Climate Change for Kids
    • Coding for Kids
    • Chemistry
    • Electricity for Kids
    • Magic Science Experiments
    • Harry Potter Experiments
    • Human Body Science
    • Air Pressure Experiments
    • Life Cycles
    • LEGO Science Experiments
    • Kitchen Science
    • Famous Scientists
    • Forces and Motion
    • Science Sparks Snippets
    • Key Stage 1 Science
      • Animals
      • Everyday Materials
      • Plants
      • Coding Activities
      • Humans and Health
      • Fine Motor skills
      • Science and Literacy
    • Key Stage 2 Science
      • Animals, Including Humans
      • Electricity
      • Light
      • Plants
      • Materials and their Properties
  • Holiday Science
    • Christmas Science
    • Halloween Science
    • Easter Science
  • Storybook Themed Science Experiments
  • Wonderful Women in STEM
  • FREE Science Resources
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • FREE Experiments
  • Science for Kids
    • Kitchen Science
    • Climate Change
    • Egg Experiments
    • Fairy Tale Science
    • Edible Science
    • Human Health
    • Chemistry
    • Inspirational Women
    • Forces and Motion
  • Science Fair Projects
  • STEM Challenges
  • Science Sparks Books
  • Contact Science Sparks
  • Science Resources for Home and School

×
Home » Primary Science » Key Stage 1 Science » Everyday Materials » Is wood waterproof?

Is wood waterproof?

Modified: Aug 25, 2016 · Published: Mar 22, 2015 by Emma Vanstone · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

This is a fun activity I’ve done with a group of Year 1 children this week as part of their Materials topic to investigate whether wood is waterproof.

We talked about the materials we tested being waterproof or not and if they were absorbent or not.

Is wood waterproof

Is wood waterproof?

Materials

LEGO house with no roof

Materials to test – paper, wood, plastic etc

Water sprayer

Instructions

First we chatted about the house needing a roof and what properties a good roof should have. We decided a roof should be waterproof.

I then asked the children to predict which of our materials would make the best roof.

We placed a piece of paper inside the house so we could easily tell if the water had leaked through the roof.

To keep the amount of water used constant we tested each material with 3 big sprays of water.

Results

As correctly predicted by the children the paper was not waterproof and absorbed the water which then leaked onto the floor of the house, we also noticed that the paper tore easily when wet.

DSC_0099

The wood was a tricky one, as the water didn’t pass straight through the wood to the floor of our house, but was absorbed by the wood, so it wasn’t waterproof.

The plastic was clearly waterproof, you can see here how the water beads on the surface.

is wood waterproof

 

To illustrate the different between the wood and water further, we set the roof to a sloping angle and observed the difference between the wood and plastic. Again the water was absorbed by the wood, but rolled straight off the plastic.

Things to think about

How could you improve the accuracy of this activity?

Should we have used the same thickness of wood, paper and plastic to make it a fair test?

Extension Ideas

Could you test to see how strong the different roof materials are?

Great for Key Stage 1 Science

Compare and group together a variety of everyday materials on the basis of their simple physical properties.

Identify and name a variety of everyday materials, including wood, plastic, glass, metal, water, and rock.

Describe the simple physical properties of a variety of everyday materials.

Early Years Foundation Stage

Understanding of the World

Is-it-waterproof

Last Updated on August 25, 2016 by Emma Vanstone

More Everyday Materials

  • waterproof a football boot
    Waterproof a Football Boot Science Investigation
  • lego house with sticks for a roof
    Ideas for learning about materials and their properties
  • Save the Dinosaur – Waterproofing Investigation
  • Sort Ariels Cave
    Sorting Ariel’s Cave

Safety Notice

Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tom Shrill

    July 01, 2015 at 3:59 pm

    Though wood isn’t inherently water proof, there are ways to make it so. All and all though, this is a fun experiment for kids. I am sure my kids would love to try something like this out.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Welcome!

Imagine a world where science education is accessible to everyone and is all about hands-on, exciting discoveries. That’s the world I want to create.

More about me

Around the World in 50 Experiments

50 experiments about countries of the world

Footer

↑ back to top

Science Sparks - FREE science experiments for kids

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Services
  • Media Kit
  • FAQ

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2025 Science Sparks - Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd