Materials in design
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can identify different materials and categorise them.
Key learning points
- Materials can be categorised using aesthetics.
- Materials can be categorised using physical properties.
- Materials can be categorised using mechanical properties.
- Materials can be categorised using the categories paper and board, timber, metal, polymer and textiles.
- Designers use a justified specification to outline material property requirements.
Keywords
Physical properties - characteristic evident all the time and can usually be measured, such as weight
Aesthetics - how the product looks including colour, texture and style or theme.
Mechanical properties - characteristic evident when the material is being worked, reacting to external forces and loads
Strength - the ability to withstand a force
Common misconception
Wood, plastic and fabric are the correct terminology
Timbers and boards, polymers and textiles are the correct terms
Teacher tip
This lesson is best with a handling collection of sheet materials for pupils to investigate first hand.
Equipment
A range of sheet materials such as grey board, foam board, calico, felt, plywood, mdf, corrugated polypropylene, HIPS, acyrlic, aluminum, mild steel, brass.
Content guidance
Risk assessment required - equipment
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the following are sourced from trees?
Q2.Which of these are made from fossil fuels and cannot be replaced?
Q3.Timber can be replaced by planting more trees, this makes timber a material which is ...
Q4.Timber can be categorised into which groups?
Q5.Match the type of strength.
Resists crushing force
Resists pulling force
Resists sliding force
Resists twisting force
Resists warping force
Q6.What is a specification?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Why do designers consider different materials?
Q2.Materials can be categorised by ...
Q3.Which word is concerned with appearance and can be defined as 'an appreciation of visual beauty' or 'how it looks'?
Q4.Which material is lightweight, can be printed or moulded?
Q5.Match the physical properties to the correct definition.
How solid a material is.
How well electricity can to pass through.
The ability to soak up liquid, light or heat.
How well heat can to pass through.
Q6.Select the mechanical properties from the list below.
To help you plan your 7 design and technology lesson on: Materials in design, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 7 design and technology lesson on: Materials in design, 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.