Material Manipulation Mats are a hands-on and engaging way to help your students consolidate their understanding of the different ways that materials can be manipulated. Using play dough, students will demonstrate different manipulations including (but not limited to) bending, folding, twisting, stretching and breaking.

The Material Manipulation Mats will allow your students to experience how different manipulations are achieved, while encouraging them to consider whether the same manipulations would be possible with other materials that have different properties. While students are working through the manipulations on their mat, engaging them in conversation about whether they think these manipulations would be possible with other materials is encouraged. For students demonstrating confidence with the concept, they could be prompted to explain the properties of play dough that make it easier to manipulate in comparison to other materials.

With both high and low colour options included, this resource is guaranteed to be a thought-provoking educational hit in your classroom. We recommend printing the mats on thick cardstock or using them in a write-and-wipe sleeve to ensure resource longevity.

It’s time to manipulate some materials.

This resource is a part of our Chemical Sciences Year 2 UNIT PLAN.