A Material Sorting Activity for Early Learners

Give your youngest scientists a hands‑on way to explore everyday materials with this Material Sorting Activity. Designed for early learners, this printable resource helps students observe objects closely and determine the material of each. With this Material Sorting Activity, your students will have fun while they build early science vocabulary, classification skills, and critical‑thinking skills.

Sort Everyday Objects by the Materials They’re Made From

Students use the sorting mats to explore eight common materials:

• wood
• metal
• glass
• fabric
• paper
• rubber
• stone
• plastic

Download This Material Sorting Game

This downloadable material sorting game includes:

• 24 sorting picture cards featuring real‑life photographs
• 8 sorting mats (one for each material)
• an answer key for teacher reference or self‑checking

It is available in both PDF and Google Slides formats. To get your copy, click the dropdown arrow on the download button and select your preferred file type.

This resource was created by Lindsey Phillips, a teacher and Teach Starter collaborator.

More Early‑Years Material Resources

Looking for more Material Resources for your early-years classroom? We’ve got you covered! Make sure you check these resources out before you go!

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Exploring Everyday Materials Posters

Recognise and identify objects made from different materials with a set of Everyday Materials Posters for early learners.

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Which Material is Best? Worksheet Pack

Explore everyday objects, the materials they’re made from, and the properties that make them useful with our Which Material Is Best? Worksheet Pack.

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Material Properties Worksheet Pack (F-2)

Identify objects made from different materials and note their properties with a printable Properties of Materials Worksheet Pack.