Brief Description
Something you can easily change the shape of by cutting, bending, or squeezing, like a sponge or a clay.
How to Talk About This Term with Young Children
For Living Things: Encourage children to think about how an animal’s characteristics (such as soft fur) help it meet its needs. Help children think about how these animals stay warm or cool.
For States of Matter and Forces and Motion: Bring attention to properties of materials through everyday experiences with objects. Compare and contrast similarities and differences as children explore.
For Structure and Properties: Point out properties of materials through everyday experiences with objects. Compare and contrast similarities and differences as children explore. Examples of soft objects include tissue, feather, and cotton balls.