Science Experiments for a Building Topic

Buildings are a great topic for Primary School science and can be used to inspire some wonderful experiments and investigations perfect for learning about the uses and properties of materials as well as starting to understand correct experimental procedures. The experiments and activities below are great for Materials at KS1 but can also be extended for older children.

Science activities for a building topic

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

First, ask children to group a selection of materials based on how they look. Shiny, dull etc. Then ask questions to discover whether talking about the properties of the material helps the children decide what material they are made from.

Sorting a selection of toys is a simple way to start to group materials.

selection of toys for a sorting materials activity

Try placing different everyday objects into a bag and ask the children to guess what the object is using their sense of touch. Which features of the object lead them to their guess? Ask if metal objects feel cold, for example.

See here for a full list of properties of different materials.

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

Ask children to mentally choose an object and ask a friend to guess what it is made from by asking questions such as "Can you see through it?", "Is it solid?"

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

Find out about conducting and non conducting materials with play dough circuits.

Investigate how materials we think of as being brittle can be strong in some instances, for example, by making an eggshell bridge.

Test materials to see if they are magnetic. One easy way to do this is to ask children to predict first which materials will stick to the magnet.

Remember – not all metals are attracted to magnets, but iron and steel ( steel is mostly iron ) are.

I've also got lots of fun magnetism experiments you can take a look at, including making magnetic cars and creating pipe cleaner magnet hairstyles.

4. Changing state and transforming materials

Water melting and freezing is a great way to start to understand changes of state.

Children can observe how water expands when it changes state into solid ice and learn about melting by making slushy drinks.

Other ideas for activities using ice include setting up ice excavations and trying to speed up or slow down the melting process.

5. Find out how the shapes of solid objects made from some materials can be changed by squashing, bending, twisting and stretching

Give children a variety of materials and ask them to predict whether they can be squashed, bent, twisted or stretched by hand and if they think the materials will return to their original shape.

Good materials to try are playdough, fabric, paper, soft balls, solid balls, a wooden rolling pin and a metal pan.

As an extension task, children can design a table to record their results.

6. Identify and compare the suitability of a variety of everyday materials

Buildings and noise

Sometimes engineers need to think about how sound travels in and out of a building. Children can investigate which materials are best for muffling sounds using a cardboard tube and a selection of test materials to absorb sounds.

3 Little Pigs STEM Challenge

A Three Little Pigs STEM Challenge is an exciting way to learn about the suitable of materials for their purpose. A house built from paper straws, for example, probably wouldn't stay up if the wolf tried to blow it down.

design sheet with three houses on it for a three little pigs STEM activity

This experiment creates a wonderful opportunity for learning about making an experiment a fair test by ensuring the amount of puff used each time is the same ( use a squeezy bottle ).

three little pig puppets sat next to a LEGO house with piles of sticks to the side of them for a STEM challenge

Waterproof a roof

Test natural materials to discover which makes the best roof for a LEGO house, then try non-natural materials too.

Small lego house, wood, paper and a water bottle for a testing a roof to see if it is waterproof science experiment

Build a house made from candy

Designing and building a candy house can be a real highlight of a building topic.

Children can spend time designing and planning their house before testing it for strength and stability.