PR-0552UK Primary Science - Book 2

Materials to make a home
Properties and characteristics of materials ~ Activity 4
Objectives
• begin to explore how
different materials may be
used in the construction
of homes suited to their
environments
• begin to distinguish between
natural and manufactured
materials
Working scientifically
• Questioning
• Observing
• Predicting
• Investigating and
experimenting
• Recording and
communicating
Designing and making
• Exploring
• Planning
• Making
• Evaluating
Background information
Properties of materials are those
characteristics of materials that
determine their suitability for
specific purposes. Some materials
occur naturally and others do not.
Natural materials may come from
underground; for example, oil,
rock, metals, slate or clay. Other
materials may come from living
things; for example, wood, wool,
cotton, leather, silk or rubber.
Some materials come from
natural elements that have been
changed, for example sand–
glass, clay–crockery, bricks.
Some materials are synthetic such
as nylon, plastic and fibreglass.
Before the lesson
Materials needed
• Paper, cardboard, adhesive tape, blocks, plastic, polystyrene, lolly sticks, toothpicks,
bubble wrap, fabric and any other available materials including natural materials
(sticks, leaves etc.), tissue boxes, cereal boxes, cling film tubes, egg cartons,
greaseproof paper, aluminium foil, food wrap, modelling clay, large butcher’s
paper for designing, pictures or photographs of different animals and their homes
(optional).
Preparation
• Sort the class into groups of five or six. Distribute the material among each
group.
• Ask pupils to bring in a model person or toy (such as an action figure doll).
The lesson
Stimulus
• Show pictures of different animals. Ask the class to identify what types of home
each animal has.
What to do
• Pupils look at each of the animals in Question 1 and decide what type of home
they have. They match the animals to the home.
• In pairs, the pupils discuss the types of materials each of the homes listed in
Question 1 are made from and list them in Question 2.
• Discuss that some materials are natural and others are manufactured. Write the
headings ‘manufactured’ and ‘natural’ on the board. Ask the class to try to list
as many different materials for each heading as possible. (Refer to ‘Background
information’).
• Pupils consider the manufactured materials that are used to build our homes and
the properties that building materials should have; for example, strong, sturdy,
waterproof.
• In pairs, pupils decide what type of house they would like to construct. They
evaluate the materials available, whether other materials are required and attempt
to source the materials.
• Pupils plan and design their house. They need to consider constraints such as time,
materials available, cost, tools available, scale too large for classroom.
• Once designed and created, pupils comment on the materials they chose and why.
They also consider how they could improve their house.
Viewing Sample
After the lesson
Answers
1. (a) hermit crab – shell
(b) beaver – lodge
(c) bee – hive
(d) squirrel – nest
(e) mole – burrow
2. Teacher check.
3. (a) bricks, cement, plaster, timber,
ceramic tiles.
(b) Answers will vary.
4. Teacher check.
Additional activities
• Pupils write an explanation of why they chose the materials for their home and
how they constructed it in polished form; attach to the house for display.
Display ideas
• Display the pupils’ model homes. If available, use a digital camera to take
photographs of the pupils planning and building their homes to display with the
models.
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