Materials and objects
Different materials are used to make different objects because they have the right properties. Look around at some objects near you. What are they made from? Why are the objects made from those materials?
Watch: Identifying materials around you
Trying to identify the materials that make everyday objects.
SPEAKER 1: "This parking meter's made out of metal."
VOICEOVER: How do you know?
SPEAKER 1: "Because it's rock solid."
SPEAKER 2: "This is made out of metal too."
SPEAKER 2: "This waste bin looks like metal but it's actually plastic."
SPEAKER 1: "Oh it looks like marble over there."
SPEAKER 2: "I can see jewelry made out of silver and gold."
SPEAKER 1: "This is made out of plastic."
Speaker 2: "And this is made out of plastic and its got a metal cord too."
Choosing the right material
One of these buildings is made from wood. The others are made from bricks.
Wood is lighter than bricks so it is quicker to build the house, but some people think that brick houses will last longer.
Which do you think is the better material to use?
Watch: Cinderella's shoes
Watch this video to see which material the Fairy Godmother chooses to make Cinderella's shoes.
Fairy Godmother needs to find the right material.
VOICEOVER: "The Godmother Diaries… It's a story of romance and magic…"
FAIRY GODMOTHER [WRITING]: "Wednesday the 25th. Cinderella must go to the ball in two days."
FAIRY GODMOTHER: "I have the spell for the coach and horses and the dress… Oh, but what about the shoes? They need to be special and, if she's to do a lot of dancing, they have to be very light."
FAIRY GODMOTHER [WRITING]: "Thursday the 26th. The ball is tomorrow and still no shoes for Cinderella."
FAIRY GODMOTHER: "I must get shoes made of the lightest thing… I had better do this scientifically and test the materials."
FAIRY GODMOTHER [WRITING]: "New: I must make it a fair test so had samples of wood, leather and glass, all exactly the same size, weighed them all very carefully. Wood, 9 grams. Leather, 12 grams. And glass, 25 grams. To be certain, I made up a bar chart of my results."
FAIRY GODMOTHER: "Biggest is usually best. Well, it must be the tallest column, mustn't it? Glass. Cinderella's slippers will be made of glass."
CINDERELLA: "Oh, these terrible shoes."
PRINCE: "Excuse me, but is this one's slipper?"
CINDERELLA: "Oh no, he's brought it back! Why can't I have some little strappy sandals like everyone else?"
PRINCE: "But it's in the story? I know: what if one wore some socks?"
CINDERELLA: "Urgh!"
FAIRY GODMOTHER: "What's the matter? What did I do wrong?"
What did the Fairy Godmother do wrong?
That's right! The Fairy Godmother wanted the lightest material to make Cinderella's shoes but she chose glass which weighed the heaviest.The lightest material in the experiment was the wood. What do you think wooden shoes would be like to wear?
What material would you choose to make a pair of shoes from? Why?
Activities
Have a go at the activities below.
Activity 1: Finding different materials
Activity 2: Materials quiz
Activity 3: Thinking about materials used for furniture
Have a look around you. Can you see any furniture?
- What is the furniture made from?
- Write down the advantages of this material.
- Write down the disadvantages of this material.
If a chair is solid, hard and shiny, then what material do you think it is made from?
Metal.
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