Materials and composites: including metals, ceramics and polymers
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can classify materials as metals, ceramics, or polymers, and describe and predict the properties of some composite materials.
Key learning points
- Metals are good thermal and electrical conductors, they are strong, shiny, malleable and ductile.
- Ceramics are made from soft substances, becoming hard and brittle when heated.
- Plastics are made from polymers and there are many types of plastics with very different properties.
- An alloy is a mixture of elements including at least one metal.
- Composites combine materials to create a new material with improved properties.
Keywords
Metal - A material that is shiny, hard and a good thermal and electrical conductor.
Ceramic - A material which is hard and brittle.
Polymer - Long chained molecules formed by joining together monomers.
Alloy - A mixture of two or more elements where at least one element is a metal.
Composite - A material made from two or more different types of materials. When combined they create a new material with improved properties.
Common misconception
The word material can be challenging, it has a different meaning in everyday life. Understanding that an alloy is a mixture and not a compound is hard because the elements are difficult to separate.
Provide lots of different examples of materials and use the word correctly within the scientific contexts. An alloy is the exception to the rule and is separated by thermal or chemical processes.
Teacher tip
Ask the pupils to test the properties of different types of materials to see if they are hard or soft, brittle or flexible, malleable and ductile, electrical or thermal conductors or insulators.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Everything around us is made of . These are the substances that objects are made from. They can be natural (e.g. wood and stone) or human–made (e.g. plastic and steel).
Q2.What do you call the features of a material that can be observed or measured?
Q3.Match the following key words to their definition.
a way in which something can be used for a particular purpose
the process of sorting objects into groups
a testable statement about a possible outcome of an experiment
Q4.Which of the following materials can be transparent?
Q5.Match the following key words or phrases to their definition.
the ability to break or shatter easily when a force is applied
a substance that allows a flow of charge (electrical current)
the ability to be formed into a shape
a substance that transfers energy by conduction
the ability to let light pass through so you can see clearly through
Q6.Scientific methods include observation, measurement, and manipulations (e.g. heating) to determine material properties. All these actions can be part of a scientific ...
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Clay and sand both consist of silicates with different particle sizes. Ceramics made from clay are opaque, while glass made from sand is typically transparent. How do these different properties occur?
Q2.If you couldn't see them, how would you distinguish between a metal, a ceramic, and a plastic vase of the same shape and size?
Q3.Polymers are monomers joined together into long chains, sometimes with chemical connections between the chains. Poly(ester) and poly(propene) are polymers and specific examples of .
Q4.Match the following key words to their definition.
a mixture of two or more elements; at least one element is a metal
a hard, brittle, heat-resistant material, often containing silica
made from at least two types of materials with improved properties
a shiny, hard material that is a good thermal and electrical conductor
long chained molecules formed by joining together monomers
Q5.Alloys and composites both have new properties compared to their components and can't be separated by simple methods. Steel is an example of an , as it is a mixture of iron and other elements.
Q6.A practical method for scientists to determine the physical properties of materials is by conducting tests. How can you distinguish between plain and reinforced concrete if the pieces look similar?
To help you plan your 9 science lesson on: Materials and composites: including metals, ceramics and polymers, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 science lesson on: Materials and composites: including metals, ceramics and polymers, 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 science lessons from the Materials unit, dive into the full secondary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.