Material sustainability
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can identify the sources of materials and assess their sustainability.
Key learning points
- Materials can be from natural or synthetic sources.
- Materials can be from renewable or non-renewable sources.
- Metal ores and polymers made from crude oil are non-renewable materials.
- Materials sourced from plants and animals are renewable.
- Recycling ensures that materials are useful for longer, before being discarded.
Keywords
Synthetic - manufactured, not naturally occurring
Sustainable - using resources wisely so that they do not run out
Renewable - resources that are non-finite and can replenish itself
Recycle - convert waste into reusable materials
Common misconception
Recycling is good for the environment.
Recycling ensures that materials are useful for longer before being discarded, but the processing is an envionmental cost.
Teacher tip
Sustainability is complex. This lesson debates the merits of different materials in regards to sustainability, with a view to supporting students making informed design decisions.
Equipment
A range of natural and synthetic materials or products for students to handle.
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which two methods of fabricating are most used for joining timber?
Q2.Match the different material terms:
polymers
timbers
fabrics
paper and boards
Q3.What can polymers be made from?
Q4.Give another word for 'made by humans'.
Q5.Which materials come from rocks and minerals underground and are also commonly called 'ore'?
Q6.Why are metal ores not sustainable?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What are the main benefits of recycling?
Q2.What is 'sustainability'?
Q3.What is a synthetic material?
Q4.How can textiles be sustainably sourced?
Q5.Which of the 6Rs is this a definition for: 'convert waste into reusable materials'?
Q6.Put the 6Rs in order of importance:
To help you plan your 7 design and technology lesson on: Material sustainability, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 7 design and technology lesson on: Material sustainability, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 design and technology lessons from the Principles of materials and manufacturing unit, dive into the full secondary design and technology curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.