You will learn
- Say what hard and soft mean.
- Sort materials into hard and soft.
- Test hardness safely.
- Give uses of hard and soft materials.
Version 0.2 · expanded edition · built from cited public sources Content is based on the official frameworks and sources listed under Sources and standards. No official endorsement is claimed. Written in the style of common primary school assessments. No exam result is promised.
Student lesson
- Hard materials do not change shape when pressed.
- Soft materials can be squeezed.
- Metal and stone are hard.
- Sponge and cotton wool are soft.
Words to know
difficult to press or bend
easy to press or squeeze
to press from the sides
a soft pillow for sitting or leaning on
1. Discover: The bed and the floor
Sade sits on a wooden stool at school. It is hard. At home she sits on a soft cushion. “Which do you prefer?” asks her teacher. “The cushion,” says Sade, “but the stool does not squash.”
Think: Which is hard and which is soft?
2. Understand: Hard and soft
Idea 1: Hard things
Hard materials are difficult to press. Stone, metal, wood and glass are hard. A hard material keeps its shape when we squeeze it.
Idea 2: Soft things
Soft materials are easy to squeeze. Sponge, cotton wool, foam and fabric are soft. A cushion is soft so it is comfortable to sit on.
Idea 3: Testing safely
We can test by gently pressing with a finger. If it dents, it is soft. If it does not, it is hard. We only test objects that are safe, and we never press sharp things.
3. Worked examples
Example 1 (I show you): Hard or soft?
A sponge.
- Squeeze it.
- It gets smaller.
- It is soft.
Answer: A sponge is soft.
Example 2 (We do it together): Sort
Stone, cotton wool, spoon, pillow.
- Stone and spoon are hard.
- Cotton wool and pillow are soft.
- Two groups.
Answer: Hard: stone, spoon. Soft: cotton wool, pillow.
Example 3 (You try): Choose
Something to sit on at school.
Show the steps and answer
- A stone seat is hard and uncomfortable.
- A cushion is soft.
- Use a cushion.
Answer: A cushion is better for sitting.
Did you know?
Diamond is the hardest natural material known.
Why this matters
Knowing hard and soft materials helps us choose safe, comfortable things.
4. Explore: Squeeze test
Test hard and soft objects.
- Collect safe objects.
- Predict hard or soft.
- Press gently.
- Record in a table.
Think about it: what did you notice?
What did you notice? Soft things change shape.
5. Practise
Say it in a sentence
Use these starters when you talk about the lesson. Say them out loud.
- Stone is ___.
- A sponge is ___.
- Soft things can be ___.
- A cushion is ___.
Guided practice
Question 1. Is stone hard or soft?
Hard.
Question 2. Is a sponge hard or soft?
Soft.
Question 3. Is metal hard or soft?
Hard.
Independent practice
Level 1: Start
- Is stone hard or soft?
- Is a sponge hard or soft?
- Is metal hard or soft?
- Is cotton wool hard or soft?
- Can we squeeze a soft thing?
Level 2: Grow
- Why is a pillow soft?
- How do we test hardness?
- Name two hard things.
Level 3: Stretch
- Sort ten objects into hard and soft.
- Explain why a helmet is hard.
- Why are toys for babies soft?
Answers are in the answer key below. Try first, then check.
6. Apply: Science in everyday life
Which hard and soft things are in your school bag?
Show a sample answer
Pencils are hard; cloth is soft.
Another one. Tell a family member one thing from this lesson. Use the words you learned.
Show a sample answer
A clear sentence that uses at least one word from Words to know.
7. Common mistakes
Fix: Hard things keep their shape.
Fix: Some soft things, like rope, are strong.
8. Lesson summary and revision card
- I can say what hard and soft mean.
- I can sort materials into hard and soft.
- I can test hardness safely.
- I can give uses of hard and soft materials.
9. Check and master
Answer all 14 questions. You will see feedback after each one.
Your result appears here after you answer every question.
10. Key takeaways
- Hard materials do not change shape when pressed.
- Soft materials can be squeezed.
- Metal and stone are hard.
- Sponge and cotton wool are soft.
11. Next lesson
Next lesson: Rough and smooth materials. Keep going with the next idea in this course.
Exam practice
These questions are written in the style of common school and international primary assessments. Try them on your own, without looking back. Then check your answers in the marking guide. The marks are shown in brackets.
- What does hard mean? [1 mark]
- Name three hard things. [3 marks]
- Name three soft things. [3 marks]
- How do we test hardness safely? [2 marks]
- Why is a helmet hard? [2 marks]
Total: 11 marks.
Marking guide and model answers
- Difficult to press [1]
- Any three [1 each]
- Any three [1 each]
- Press gently [1]; see if it dents [1]
- Protect head [1]; does not dent [1]
Score guide: 10 to 11 = secure. 7 to 9 = nearly there, revise the parts you missed. Under 7 = work through the lesson again with a grown-up.
Printable worksheet
- Is stone hard or soft?
- Is a sponge hard or soft?
- Is metal hard or soft?
- Is cotton wool hard or soft?
- Can we squeeze a soft thing?
- Why is a pillow soft?
- How do we test hardness?
- Name two hard things.
- Sort ten objects into hard and soft.
- Explain why a helmet is hard.
Homework
Find five hard and five soft things at home. Make a chart.
Answer key and marking scheme
| Question | Expected response | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Is stone hard or soft? | Hard. | 1 |
| 2. Is a sponge hard or soft? | Soft. | 1 |
| 3. Is metal hard or soft? | Hard. | 1 |
| 4. Is cotton wool hard or soft? | Soft. | 1 |
| 5. Can we squeeze a soft thing? | Yes. | 1 |
| 6. Why is a pillow soft? | So it is comfortable. | 1 |
| 7. How do we test hardness? | Press gently. | 1 |
| 8. Name two hard things. | Stone and metal. | 1 |
| 9. Sort ten objects into hard and soft. | A correct sort. | 1 |
| 10. Explain why a helmet is hard. | To protect the head. | 1 |
| Total | 10 |
Independent practice answers. Level 1: 1 Hard.; 2 Soft.; 3 Hard.; 4 Soft.; 5 Yes.. Level 2: 1 So it is comfortable.; 2 Press gently.; 3 Stone and metal.. Level 3: 1 A correct sort.; 2 To protect the head.; 3 Safe and comfortable..
Quiz answers: 1 B, 2 C, 3 A, 4 B, 5 C, 6 A, 7 B, 8 C, 9 A, 10 B, 11 C, 12 A, Challenge 1 B, Challenge 2 C.
Mastery and remediation
| Objective | Bronze (Developing) | Silver (Proficient) | Gold (Advanced) |
|---|---|---|---|
| O1 Say what hard and soft mean | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O2 Sort materials into hard and soft | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O3 Test hardness safely | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O4 Give uses of hard and soft materials | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
Courseversity badge thresholds (overall quiz score): Gold = 90–100%; Silver = 80–89.9%; Bronze = 70–79.9%. A badge is never a full record of progress.
If a learner struggles
- Find the misconception: “Hard things can be squeezed.” Hard things keep their shape.
- Explain another way: use real objects, pictures or actions first, then words.
- Show a simpler example: Use ten objects. Sort into hard and soft.
- Guided practice: work through one example together and let the learner try the next one.
- Reassess: use the quiz again or the worksheet.
- Move on when the learner shows Silver-level evidence independently.
For parents and guardians
In this lesson your child learns to tell hard materials from soft ones. You do not need to be an expert to help.
- Sort household objects.
- Ask, “Is it hard or soft?”
- Talk about why cushions are soft.
- Ask “how do you know?” after each answer, and listen.
- Praise effort, not only right answers. Mistakes are how we learn.
- Ten to fifteen minutes a day is better than one long session.
Teacher package
1–5. Objectives, prerequisites, materials, preparation, duration
Lesson objectives. Learners will: say what hard and soft mean; sort materials into hard and soft; test hardness safely; give uses of hard and soft materials.
Prerequisite knowledge. None. Learners should be able to look, listen and talk about what they notice.
Materials. Sponge, cotton wool, stones, spoons, foam, pillows, chart paper. Low-resource options: use chalk or charcoal on a board or wall, drawings in the sand, and objects from the classroom instead of printed materials.
Preparation. Gather safe objects. Make a table with two columns: hard and soft.
Suggested duration. 45–60 minutes. It can be split into two shorter sessions.
6–9. Teaching procedure, explanation notes, guided and independent activities
Introduction (5 min). Ask, “Which would you rather sit on?”
Explanation (10 min). Teach hard and soft.
Guided activity (10 min). Learners test objects.
Independent activity (10 min). Learners sort and record.
Assessment and reflection (5 min). Ask each learner to say one thing they learned and how they know it.
Key questions. Does it change shape when I press it?
Teacher explanation notes. Start with real objects and safe, hands-on observation. Then talk about what was seen, then draw and write. Always say “how do you know?”. Keep to the safety notes, and use local, safe materials.
10–12. Differentiation, formative assessment, common misconceptions
Support. Use real objects and pictures, short sentences and a partner. Let learners point, show or draw instead of writing. Extension. Ask learners to find a new example at home and explain how they know.
Formative assessment. Listen to learners read and explain, ask “how do you know?”, and check the independent work.
Misconceptions. “Hard things can be squeezed.” Hard things keep their shape.
13–15. Assessment questions, answer keys, marking scheme
Use the quiz, the 11-mark exam practice and the worksheet on this page. All answers and marking guides are in the answer sections above. Re-check every answer before use.
16–19. Remediation, enrichment, homework, teacher reflection
Remediation. Use ten objects. Sort into hard and soft. Enrichment. Look for one new example near your home or school, draw it and explain it to someone. Homework. See above.
Teacher reflection. After teaching, record: which ideas learners understood; which misconceptions occurred; which activities worked; which learners need more practice; and what to improve next time.
Sources and standards
This lesson is based on the sources below, and no official endorsement is claimed. Reference starting points: Next Generation Science Standards, Cambridge Primary Science and the IB Primary Years Programme. Where a standard code is named, it points to the official framework.
Research used to shape this lesson. Courseversity Science curriculum, Grade 1 Unit 6, topic 8; Next Generation Science Standards, structure and properties of matter; Cambridge Primary Science Stage 1, materials; IB Primary Years Programme, how the world works. These sources informed the lesson.