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Lesson 4 of 8
  • Year 9

Manufacture and materials processing

I can explain the impact of decisions at the manufacturing and materials stage.

Lesson 4 of 8
New
New
  • Year 9

Manufacture and materials processing

I can explain the impact of decisions at the manufacturing and materials stage.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Decisions at the manufacture and materials processing stage have the potential to reduce the environmental impact.
  2. Fairtrade is a global movement ensuring better prices, decent working conditions, and fair terms for farmers/workers.

Keywords

  • Carbon emissions - volume of carbon produced contributing to global warming

  • Fairtrade - a system that ensures farmers and workers receive fair prices, decent working conditions, and support for community development through trade

  • Living income - the amount of money that is needed for a household to have a decent standard of living

Common misconception

The only environmental decision at the manufacture and materials processing stage is the choice between renewable/non renewable sources of energy.

Environmental decisions include sources of energy, use of recycled materials, sustainable land management such as deforestation, pollution including water pollution and transportation. During manufacture, ethical impacts should also be considered.


To help you plan your year 9 design and technology lesson on: Manufacture and materials processing, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

A great way to start this lesson is to bring in a selection of chocolate, some being Fairtrade and others that are not. Ask them to vote for their favourite chocolate and a reason why... did anyone pick based on Fairtrade?
Teacher tip

Equipment

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
What does this image represent?

An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: the circular economy, circular economy

Q2.
Which stage of the circular economy is missing?

An image in a quiz
manufacture
Correct answer: manufacture and materials processing
transportation
materials processing
extraction

Q3.
What are carbon emissions?

amount of carbon in fossil fuels
process of planting trees to absorb carbon
Correct answer: volume of carbon dioxide released into atmosphere contributing to global warming
carbon found naturally in plants and animals

Q4.
Why do some people choose to buy Fairtrade products?

They are always the cheapest.
They look nicer.
Correct answer: It helps support fair wages and better lives for workers.
They are made in the UK.

Q5.
What is a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) used for?

to calculate how long a product will last before it breaks
Correct answer: to measure the environmental impact of a product from raw material to disposal
to decide how attractive a product looks to customers
to work out the cost of manufacturing a product

Q6.
In Design & Technology, what does LCA stand for?

Linear Cost Analysis
Correct answer: Life Cycle Assessment
Local Carbon Analysis
Long term Component Appraisal

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the term to the definition:

Correct Answer:Fairtrade price,minimum price that must be paid to producers for their goods

minimum price that must be paid to producers for their goods

Correct Answer:Fairtrade premium,investment for the community to help build stronger communities

investment for the community to help build stronger communities

Correct Answer:Living income,amount of money needed for a decent standard of living

amount of money needed for a decent standard of living

Q2.
The missing stage of the circular economy is manufacture and processing:

An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: materials

Q3.
Decisions to reduce environmental impact at the manufacture and materials processing stage include:

Correct answer: prevention of dangerous chemicals into water supplies
Fairtrade price
Correct answer: reduction in transport between stages
using bleach and dyes for producing cotton
Correct answer: urenewable energy sources and materials

Q4.
Around __________ litres (30 bathtubs) of water are required to produce one t-shirt.

2800
2600
2500
Correct answer: 2700

Q5.
Order the steps of cotton production.

1 - Cotton seeds are sown, watered and grown for the the fluffy bolls.
2 - The fluffy bolls are harvested.
3 - The fluffy bolls are separated from the seeds in a mechanical cotton gin.
4 - Cotton lint is pressed into bales.
5 - Shipped to a spinning facility usually in China or India.

Q6.
__________ fashion is when clothing is produced quickly and cheaply to keep up with the latest trends.

Correct Answer: Fast