Material considerations and selection
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how a range of factors affect material selection in industry.
Key learning points
- Materials have different properties that affect their use in industry.
- Industries choose materials by balancing cost, performance, and sustainability.
Keywords
Physical properties - the characteristics of a material, such as appearance and features
Working properties - the way in which a material responds to an external force or certain environment; also referred to as mechanical properties
Performance - how well a product or material works
Sustainability - a product or material that has minimal environmental impact through its reuse or replenishment
Common misconception
The cheapest material is always the best choice.
Material selection involves balancing multiple factors, such as strength, durability, weight, sustainability, and ease of manufacturing; in addition to cost.
Teacher tip
Use an example of a familiar product to use as a discussion point for material choices. For example, some bicycle frames are made of steel (strong, cost-effective), while others are made of carbon fibre (lightweight, expensive).
Equipment
A collection of material samples e.g. timbers, polymers, metals, textiles, glass/ceramics is needed for Task A.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What form of research is gathering data from component data sheets?
Q2.Why do companies analyse their products?
Q3.Match each element of a design brief to its description.
Who the product is designed for
What the product needs to do
What the product should be made from
Limitations such as budget or size
Q4.Which of the following materials would not be suitable for a child’s lunchbox?
Q5.When a business produces more units of a product, it can lower the cost per unit due to ...
Q6.Which of the following are linked to internal costing factors?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of these factors is NOT considered when choosing materials for a product?
Q2.Materials with high are resistant to changes in shape or size under pressure.
Q3.Which material is typically chosen for products that need to be lightweight and durable, such as aircraft parts?
Q4.When companies choose materials, they must consider , which includes the energy used in production and disposal.
Q5.Match the material to its common use:
Lightweight car parts
Reusable lunchboxes
Carrier bags
Sports equipment
Q6.Which of the following is an example of a physical property?
To help you plan your 11 design and technology lesson on: Material considerations and selection, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 design and technology lesson on: Material considerations and selection, 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 4 design and technology lessons from the Designing and Making Principles unit, dive into the full secondary design and technology curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.