---
title: "Testing Materials for Uses"
description: "Give reasons, based on evidence from comparative and fair tests, for the particular uses of everyday materials including metals, wood, and plastic"
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/testing-materials-for-uses-mt_e3-_toGuWf
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/testing-materials-for-uses-mt_e3-_toGuWf.md
retrieved: 2026-10-19
---

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# Testing Materials for Uses

Give reasons, based on evidence from comparative and fair tests, for the particular uses of everyday materials including metals, wood, and plastic

Subject: Science · Area: Matter & Materials · Ages 7 to 10
Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/testing-materials-for-uses-mt_e3-_toGuWf

## Ready when they can

- Design a fair test to compare a specific property of two or more materials
- Present test results as evidence for why a material is suited to a particular use
- Explain the link between a material's tested properties and its real-world application

## Lesson: Testing materials for the job

You already know materials have different properties, like hard, soft, bendy, or waterproof. But how do you know which material is best for a job? You test it and use the results as evidence.

A fair test changes only one thing: the material. Everything else stays the same. If you test which material blocks water best, you use the same amount of water, the same size cloth, and the same amount of time for every material.

*(drawing: This fair test shows metal held the most weight before it bent. That is evidence metal is strong.)*

**Example.** Think about a saucepan. The pot is made of metal because tests show metal carries heat well, so your food cooks. The handle is made of plastic because tests show plastic does not carry heat well, so your hand stays cool.

**Tip.** When you pick a material for a job, match the test evidence to what the job needs. A raincoat needs a material that tests show blocks water. A spoon needs a material that tests show is hard and does not bend.

**Recap.** Fair tests give evidence, and matching that evidence to the job tells you which material to use.

## Practice

8 questions on this page, each with its working shown.

## Needs first

- [Choosing the Right Material](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/choosing-the-right-material-mt_rTn43s8RNX)

## Opens up

- [Advanced Material Properties](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/advanced-material-properties-mt_Ge4Wtg6QMM)
- [Material Properties Vocabulary](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/material-properties-vocabulary-mt_MVovx37Xct)