Changing Shapes of Solids · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Changing the shape of solids

Science · Matter & Materials · ages 6-7
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. Tom stretches a rubber band until it is long and thin. What is true about it now?

    • It is still rubber, just in a new shape
    • It has turned into a piece of string
    • It is a new material now

  2. Zara curves a straight straw into an arc. Which action is she using?

    • Stretching
    • Bending
    • Squashing

  3. Which of these would squash the most when you press it with your hand?

    • A metal spoon
    • A sponge
    • A wooden block

  4. A rubber band stretches more easily than a wooden ruler.

    Circle one:   True   False

  5. Priya pushes on a wooden block and a lump of playdough with the same amount of force. What happens?

    • The playdough squashes easily but the wood does not
    • Both squash the same amount
    • The wood squashes but the playdough does not

  6. Priya presses a ball of clay flat, then pulls it into a long snake. Which two actions did she use?

    • Bending, then squashing
    • Squashing, then stretching
    • Twisting, then bending

  7. Priya pushes on a lump of playdough and a wooden block. Which one keeps its shape best?

    • The wooden block
    • The playdough
    • They both change the same amount

  8. Tom pulls both ends of a rubber band to make it longer and thinner. Which action is this?

    • Bending
    • Stretching
    • Twisting

  9. Omar tries to bend a metal spoon with his hands, but it stays straight. Why?

    • The spoon is too cold to bend
    • Metal turns soft as soon as you touch it
    • Metal is stiff, so it barely bends

  10. Which of these would actually work?

    • Twisting a pipe cleaner into a spiral
    • Squashing a wooden block flat with your hands
    • Stretching a metal spoon until it is longer
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Changing the shape of solids W1-mt_wf-SJhZ1kC-s1

  1. It is still rubber, just in a new shape · Stretching only changes the shape. The band is still made of rubber.
  2. Bending · Curving something into an arc is called bending.
  3. A sponge · A sponge is soft and squashes easily. Wood and metal are hard and stiff, so they barely squash.
  4. True · A rubber band is stretchy, so it pulls longer easily. Wood is stiff and barely stretches at all.
  5. The playdough squashes easily but the wood does not · Playdough is soft and squashes easily. Wood is hard and stiff, so it barely changes shape.
  6. Squashing, then stretching · Pressing flat is squashing, and pulling longer is stretching.
  7. The wooden block · Wood is hard and stiff, so it keeps its shape. Soft playdough squishes into a new shape.
  8. Stretching · Pulling something to make it longer is called stretching.
  9. Metal is stiff, so it barely bends · Metal is a stiff material, so it keeps its shape when you push on it. Soft things like clay bend a lot; stiff things like metal and wood barely do.
  10. Twisting a pipe cleaner into a spiral · A pipe cleaner is bendy, so twisting works. Wood and metal are too stiff to squash flat or stretch longer with your hands.
Worksheet · LightMySky