EVS / Science

Materials Around Us

Class 3

🎯 Learning Objectives

I can explain what a material is and give examples.
I can tell the difference between natural and man-made materials.
I can describe properties of materials (hard/soft, rough/smooth, transparent/opaque).
I can name common materials and things made from them.
I can explain why certain materials are chosen for certain objects.
I can describe how to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle materials.

📖 What Are Materials?

Look around you! Everything you see — your desk, your pencil, your water bottle, your clothes — is made of some material.

A material is what an object is made of. For example, a chair can be made of wood, plastic, or metal. The wood, plastic, or metal is the material.

Different materials have different qualities. That is why we choose the right material to make the right thing!

Natural Materials vs Man-Made Materials

Materials can be divided into two groups based on where they come from:

Natural Materials	Man-Made Materials
Found in nature (not made by humans)	Made by humans in factories
Wood, cotton, wool, silk, jute, clay, stone, leather	Plastic, glass, nylon, cement, steel, rubber (synthetic)
Come from plants, animals, or the earth	Made from chemicals or by processing natural materials

Natural vs man-made materials comparison

Is rubber natural or man-made? Natural rubber comes from the rubber tree (latex), but most rubber today is synthetic (man-made in factories). So rubber can be both!

Examples of Natural Materials and Their Sources

Material	Source	Type
Wood	Trees (teak, neem, mango)	Plant
Cotton	Cotton plant	Plant
Jute	Jute plant	Plant
Silk	Silkworm cocoon	Animal
Wool	Sheep, goat (Pashmina)	Animal
Leather	Animal skin	Animal
Clay	Earth / soil	Earth
Stone / Marble	Rocks, mountains	Earth

Properties of Materials

Every material has special qualities called properties. These properties help us decide which material to use for what purpose.

1. Hard and Soft

Hard Materials	Soft Materials
Cannot be pressed or scratched easily	Can be pressed, squeezed, or bent easily
Iron, stone, wood, glass, diamond	Cotton, sponge, rubber, clay, wool

2. Rough and Smooth

Rough Materials	Smooth Materials
Feel uneven when you touch them	Feel even and flat when you touch them
Sandpaper, brick, tree bark, jute bag	Glass, silk, plastic, polished marble

3. Transparent, Translucent, and Opaque

Type	Meaning	Examples
Transparent	You can see clearly through it	Clear glass, clean water, air
Translucent	Some light passes, but you cannot see clearly	Frosted glass, oiled paper, thin cloth
Opaque	No light passes through; you cannot see through it	Wood, metal, stone, cardboard

Transparent, translucent, opaque materials

4. Soluble and Insoluble

Soluble	Insoluble
Dissolves (mixes completely) in water	Does not dissolve in water
Salt, sugar, lemon juice, ink	Sand, stone, oil, plastic, chalk powder

5. Magnetic and Non-Magnetic

Magnetic	Non-Magnetic
Attracted by a magnet	Not attracted by a magnet
Iron, steel, nickel, cobalt	Wood, plastic, glass, rubber, aluminium, copper

Try this at home: Take a magnet and touch different things — a steel spoon, a plastic ruler, a coin, a paper clip. Which ones stick to the magnet?

Common Materials and Their Uses

Let us learn about the most common materials we use every day:

Material	Properties	Common Uses
Wood	Hard, strong, opaque, can be cut and shaped	Furniture, doors, boats, pencils, cricket bat
Metal (Iron/Steel)	Very hard, strong, shiny, conducts heat, magnetic	Cooking vessels, tools, bridges, railway tracks
Plastic	Light, waterproof, flexible, does not rust	Bottles, bags, toys, buckets, chairs
Glass	Transparent, smooth, hard, brittle (breaks easily)	Windows, mirrors, spectacles, bottles, bulbs
Rubber	Soft, flexible, waterproof, bouncy	Tyres, erasers, balloons, gloves, rubber bands
Paper	Light, thin, smooth, can be folded, burns easily	Books, newspapers, notebooks, kites, bags
Cloth (Fabric)	Soft, flexible, can be stitched, absorbs water	Clothes, curtains, bags, towels, flags
Clay	Soft when wet, hard when baked, can be moulded	Pots, diyas, bricks, tiles, idols

Eight common materials with example objects

What Are Things Made Of?

Most objects around us are made from one or more materials. Can you match these objects to their materials?

Object	Material(s)
School desk	Wood and metal (iron)
Water bottle	Plastic or glass or steel
Window	Glass and wood/aluminium (frame)
Cooking pot (patila)	Steel or aluminium
Rubber band	Rubber
Notebook	Paper
School uniform	Cotton cloth
Diya (lamp)	Clay
Cricket bat	Wood (willow)
Spectacles	Glass (lens) and plastic/metal (frame)

Some objects are made of more than one material! A pencil has wood (body), graphite (lead), metal (holder), and rubber (eraser). Can you think of other objects made from multiple materials?

Choosing the Right Material

We choose materials carefully based on their properties. The wrong material can make an object useless or even dangerous!

Object	Material Used	Why This Material?
Windows	Glass	Transparent — lets light in so we can see outside
Cooking pots	Steel / Aluminium	Conducts heat well, does not burn, strong
Tyres	Rubber	Flexible, bouncy, grips the road, does not break
Raincoat	Plastic / Nylon	Waterproof — does not let water pass through
Electric wires (covering)	Plastic / Rubber	Does not conduct electricity — keeps us safe
Bridges	Steel and concrete	Very strong, can hold heavy weight
Books	Paper	Light, smooth, easy to write on, can be folded
Umbrella	Cloth/nylon (top) + metal (frame)	Waterproof top + strong frame

🤔 Think About It!

Why don't we make windows from wood? Because wood is opaque — light cannot pass through it. We need glass because it is transparent.

Why don't we make cooking pots from plastic? Because plastic melts when heated! Metal can handle high heat without melting.

Why don't we make tyres from glass? Because glass is brittle — it would break on bumpy roads! Rubber is flexible and bouncy.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Many materials (especially plastic) harm our environment. We must follow the 3 Rs to protect our Earth:

The 3 Rs	Meaning	Examples
Reduce	Use less material; avoid waste	Carry a cloth bag instead of taking plastic bags; use both sides of paper
Reuse	Use the same thing again instead of throwing it away	Use old jars as pen holders; give old clothes to others; refill water bottles
Recycle	Turn old materials into new products	Old newspapers → new paper; plastic bottles → new plastic items; metal cans → new metal

India produces over 25,000 tonnes of plastic waste every day! If we all reduce, reuse, and recycle, we can save our rivers, soil, and animals from plastic pollution.

📝 Key Words

Word	Meaning
Material	What an object is made of (e.g., wood, plastic, metal)
Natural	Found in nature; not made by humans
Man-made (Synthetic)	Made by humans in factories
Transparent	Light passes through; you can see clearly (glass)
Opaque	Light cannot pass through (wood, metal)
Translucent	Some light passes; blurry view (frosted glass)
Soluble	Dissolves in water (salt, sugar)
Insoluble	Does not dissolve in water (sand, plastic)
Magnetic	Attracted by a magnet (iron, steel)
Brittle	Breaks easily when dropped (glass, clay)
Flexible	Can be bent without breaking (rubber, cloth)
Recycle	Turn old/used materials into new products

⭐ Key Points to Remember

A material is what an object is made of.
Natural materials come from nature (wood, cotton, wool, silk, clay, stone).
Man-made materials are made in factories (plastic, glass, nylon, cement).
Properties of materials: hard/soft, rough/smooth, transparent/opaque, soluble/insoluble, magnetic/non-magnetic.
Common materials: wood, metal, plastic, glass, rubber, paper, cloth, clay.
We choose materials based on their properties (glass for windows, metal for cooking, rubber for tyres).
Follow the 3 Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle to protect our environment.

Finished learning? Now test what you know!

🎯 Quick Quiz — Test Yourself!

Answer these 8 questions about materials. Read each one carefully and pick the best answer!

Score: 0 / 8

1. A material is...

A material is what an object is made of, such as wood, metal, or plastic.

2. Which of these is a natural material?

Wood, cotton, wool, silk, clay, and stone are natural materials that come from nature.

3. Which of these is a man-made material?

Plastic, glass, nylon, and cement are man-made materials made in factories.

4. A material you can see through, like glass, is called...

A transparent material lets light pass through, so we can see through it (like glass).

5. Why is rubber used to make tyres?

We choose materials based on their properties. Rubber is bendy and grips well, so it is used for tyres.

6. A material you cannot see through, like wood or a brick wall, is called ______.

An opaque material does not let light pass through, so we cannot see through it.

7. The 3 Rs that help protect our environment are...

The 3 Rs are Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. They help protect our environment.

8. Which material would you choose to make a cooking pot?

Metal is used for cooking pots because it is strong and can be heated without burning.

✏️ Practice Questions

A. Fill in the Blanks

1. A is what an object is made of.

2. Wood, cotton, and wool are materials.

3. Plastic and nylon are materials.

4. Glass is because we can see through it.

5. Salt and sugar are in water.

6. Iron and steel are attracted by a .

7. We use for making tyres because it is flexible and bouncy.

8. Cooking pots are made of because it conducts heat.

9. The 3 Rs are Reduce, , and Recycle.

10. Materials that do not allow light to pass through are called .

B. Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of these is a natural material?

(a) Plastic(b) Nylon(c) Cotton(d) Glass

2. Which material is transparent?

(a) Wood(b) Metal(c) Glass(d) Rubber

3. Which material is attracted by a magnet?

(a) Plastic(b) Wood(c) Iron(d) Glass

4. Why are cooking pots made of metal?

(a) It is light(b) It conducts heat(c) It is transparent(d) It is soft

5. Which is an example of "Reuse"?

(a) Burning paper(b) Using old jar as pen holder(c) Buying new bags(d) Throwing bottles

C. Short Answer Questions

1. What is a material? Give three examples.

2. What is the difference between natural and man-made materials? Give two examples of each.

3. Why do we use glass for windows and not wood?

4. What are the 3 Rs? Give one example of each.

5. Name three properties of materials and give one example for each.

D. True or False

1. Plastic is a natural material.

2. Glass is transparent.

3. Wood is attracted by a magnet.

4. Salt dissolves in water.

5. Rubber is hard and brittle.

E. Match the Following

Column A (Object)	Column B (Material)
1. Window pane	a. Rubber
2. Cooking pot	b. Wood
3. Tyre	c. Paper
4. Cricket bat	d. Glass
5. Notebook	e. Steel

🎨 Fun Activities

Activity 1: Material Hunt

Look around your home. Find objects made of these materials and write them below:

Material	Object 1	Object 2
Wood
Metal
Plastic
Glass
Cloth

Activity 2: Magnet Test

Take a magnet and test 10 objects at home. Write which ones are magnetic and which are non-magnetic.

Want to review the lesson again?

EVS / Science

Materials Around Us

Class 3 | CBSE / NCERT / ICSE

Name: Class: Date:

What Are Materials?

A material is what an object is made of. For example, a chair can be made of wood, plastic, or metal. We choose materials based on their properties.

Natural vs Man-Made Materials

Natural Materials	Man-Made Materials
Found in nature (plants, animals, earth)	Made by humans in factories
Wood, cotton, wool, silk, jute, clay, stone	Plastic, glass, nylon, cement, steel

Sources of Natural Materials:

Material	Source	Type
Wood	Trees	Plant
Cotton	Cotton plant	Plant
Silk	Silkworm	Animal
Wool	Sheep	Animal
Clay	Earth/soil	Earth

Properties of Materials

1. Hard and Soft

Hard	Soft
Iron, stone, wood, glass	Cotton, sponge, rubber, wool

2. Rough and Smooth

Rough	Smooth
Sandpaper, brick, tree bark, jute	Glass, silk, plastic, marble

3. Transparent, Translucent, Opaque

Type	Meaning	Examples
Transparent	See clearly through	Glass, water, air
Translucent	Some light, blurry	Frosted glass, oiled paper
Opaque	No light passes	Wood, metal, stone

4. Soluble and Insoluble

Soluble (dissolves in water)	Insoluble (does not dissolve)
Salt, sugar, lemon juice, ink	Sand, stone, oil, plastic

5. Magnetic and Non-Magnetic

Magnetic (attracted by magnet)	Non-Magnetic
Iron, steel, nickel, cobalt	Wood, plastic, glass, rubber, copper

Common Materials and Their Uses

Material	Properties	Uses
Wood	Hard, strong, opaque	Furniture, doors, pencils
Metal	Hard, shiny, conducts heat	Cooking pots, tools, bridges
Plastic	Light, waterproof, flexible	Bottles, bags, toys, buckets
Glass	Transparent, smooth, brittle	Windows, mirrors, spectacles
Rubber	Soft, flexible, waterproof	Tyres, erasers, balloons
Paper	Light, thin, burns easily	Books, newspapers, kites
Cloth	Soft, flexible, absorbs water	Clothes, curtains, towels
Clay	Soft wet, hard baked	Pots, diyas, bricks, idols

What Are Things Made Of?

Object	Material(s)
School desk	Wood + metal
Water bottle	Plastic / glass / steel
Window	Glass + wood/aluminium
Cooking pot	Steel / aluminium
Notebook	Paper
Diya	Clay
Cricket bat	Wood (willow)
Spectacles	Glass + plastic/metal

Choosing the Right Material

Object	Material	Why?
Windows	Glass	Transparent — lets light in
Cooking pots	Steel	Conducts heat, strong
Tyres	Rubber	Flexible, grips road
Raincoat	Plastic/Nylon	Waterproof
Wire covering	Plastic/Rubber	Does not conduct electricity
Bridges	Steel + concrete	Very strong

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (3 Rs)

R	Meaning	Example
Reduce	Use less, avoid waste	Carry cloth bag, use both sides of paper
Reuse	Use again, don't throw	Old jar as pen holder, refill bottles
Recycle	Turn old into new	Old paper → new paper, plastic → new items

⭐ Key Points

Material = what an object is made of.
Natural: wood, cotton, wool, silk, clay, stone. Man-made: plastic, glass, nylon, cement.
Properties: hard/soft, rough/smooth, transparent/opaque, soluble/insoluble, magnetic/non-magnetic.
Common materials: wood, metal, plastic, glass, rubber, paper, cloth, clay.
Choose material based on properties (glass for windows, metal for cooking, rubber for tyres).
3 Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle — protect our environment.

Practice Questions

A. Fill in the Blanks

1. A is what an object is made of.

2. Wood, cotton, and wool are materials.

3. Plastic and nylon are materials.

4. Glass is because we can see through it.

5. Salt and sugar are in water.

6. Iron and steel are attracted by a .

7. We use for tyres because it is flexible.

8. Cooking pots are made of because it conducts heat.

9. The 3 Rs are Reduce, , and Recycle.

10. Materials that block light are called .

B. Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which is a natural material?

(a) Plastic(b) Nylon(c) Cotton(d) Glass

2. Which material is transparent?

(a) Wood(b) Metal(c) Glass(d) Rubber

3. Which is attracted by a magnet?

(a) Plastic(b) Wood(c) Iron(d) Glass

4. Why are cooking pots made of metal?

(a) Light(b) Conducts heat(c) Transparent(d) Soft

5. Which is "Reuse"?

(a) Burn paper(b) Old jar as pen holder(c) Buy new bags(d) Throw bottles

C. Short Answer Questions

1. What is a material? Give three examples.

2. Difference between natural and man-made materials? Two examples each.

3. Why do we use glass for windows and not wood?

4. What are the 3 Rs? Give one example of each.

5. Name three properties of materials with one example each.