New
New
Year 7

Material selection

I can select the most appropriate materials using properties and chooser charts.

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New
New
Year 7

Material selection

I can select the most appropriate materials using properties and chooser charts.

Link copied to clipboard

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These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The purpose, environment and user of a product determine the material properties required.
  2. The product properties required determines the material chosen.

Keywords

  • Product - the object that will be designed and created

  • Purpose - the intended function of the product

  • Place - where the product will be used

  • Person - the user of the product

Common misconception

There is only one suitable material for each product.

There are many different materials which can be suitable once a choice has been made; it is important to explain and justify this.


To help you plan your year 7 design and technology lesson on: Material selection, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

A variety of timbers and polymers as real examples rather than pictures on the slide deck may enhance the lesson.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Worksheets, writing equipment. Materials and examples of timbers and polymers.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is a pillar drill NOT used for?
Correct answer: Creating straight lines
Creating holes in timbers
Creating holes in polymers
Q2.
Which tool is best for working with timber to cut a curved shape?
Correct Answer: Coping saw, Fretsaw
Q3.
Which manufacturing process joins materials?
Deforming
Correct answer: Fabricating
Wasting
Q4.
Scissors are usually used to cut which materials?
Metals
Polymers
Correct answer: Paper
Correct answer: Fabric
Q5.
How many products are produced in a batch production?
Correct Answer: More than one product, Some, Many, A number of products, More than one
Q6.
What is the purpose of a risk assessment?
Remove all the risks
Correct answer: Assess what the potential risks are
Correct answer: Minimise any potential risks

6 Questions

Q1.
Which of these is not a factor when selecting materials?
Person
Product
Correct answer: Pulley
Place
Purpose
Q2.
Match the product to the place and material:
Correct Answer:kitchen chair,often polymer seat

often polymer seat

Correct Answer:classroom chair,often timber seat

often timber seat

Correct Answer:armchair,often fabric seat

often fabric seat

Q3.
Which materials are garden chairs often made from?
Fabric
Timber
Correct answer: Metal
Correct answer: Polymer
Q4.
Which softwood is often used for indoor furniture?
Correct Answer: Pine, Douglas fir, Spruce
Q5.
Why are classroom chairs often made from polymers?
Correct answer: They are lightweight.
Correct answer: They are resistant to wear and tear.
They dissolve in water.
Correct answer: They are cost-effective to produce in large quantities.
Q6.
Which polymer is often used to manufacture classroom chair shells?
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
Correct answer: Polypropylene (PP)
High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS)

Additional material

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