Materials, Mixing and Pushes and Pulls: Year 2 Study Guide
Materials can be mixed, heated or cooled to make something new, and forces change how things move.
Materials can be combined to make new things. Flour, water and yeast make bread. Paint colours mix to make new colours. Some materials can be changed by heating, cooling, cutting or bending. Ice melts, dough bakes, wood is cut and a paperclip bends. Some changes are reversible (ice) and some are not (toast).
A push moves something away; a pull brings it closer. The bigger the force, the bigger the change in movement. A force can start something moving, stop it, speed it up, slow it down or change its direction.
Changes to materials
| Change | What happens | Reversible? |
|---|---|---|
| Melting ice | Solid to liquid | Yes (freeze it) |
| Baking a cake | Mixture becomes solid | No |
| Folding paper | Shape changes | Mostly (can be unfolded) |
| Mixing sugar in water | Sugar seems to disappear | Can be recovered by evaporating the water |
Pushes and pulls
Examples of pushes: kicking a ball, closing a door. Examples of pulls: opening a drawer, tug-of-war. Friction slows objects: a ball rolls further on smooth floor than on grass. Gravity pulls things down: dropped objects fall. Magnets can pull some metals without touching them.
Will the car go further on tile or carpet?
Release it from the same ramp.
How far did it go?
Friction is greater on carpet.
Fair tests
Change one thing at a time. If you test how far a car rolls down a steeper ramp, keep the car, the surface and the release point the same. Repeat the test three times and record the results. Draw conclusions from your evidence, not just what you expected.
Worked examples and common mistakes
Example: Is a swing started by a push or a pull? A push. Example: Why does a ball roll further on a smooth floor? Less friction. Common mistakes: saying heavier things always fall faster, and thinking that things 'want' to stop. They slow because of friction. Test different objects in a safe place.
Check your understanding: model answers
1. Reversible: melting ice. Not reversible: baking a cake. 2. A push. 3. Carpet has more friction, which slows it.
✨ Key Takeaways
- Materials can be combined or changed.
- Some changes are reversible; some are not.
- A push moves away; a pull moves closer.
- Fair tests change one thing.
💬 Questions for Discussion & Reflection
- Name one reversible and one non-reversible change.
- Is closing a door a push or a pull?
- Why does a toy car slow down on carpet?
Print a science observation log →