step 1 of 6
You have sorted materials into groups by their properties. Now those properties get a job to do. A window must let light in and let you see outside.
Why are windows made of glass instead of wood?
به انگلیسی
Choosing the Right Material
Identify and compare the suitability of everyday materials for particular uses, explaining why specific materials are chosen for specific purposes
What a learner can do afterwards
- Explain why a specific material is chosen for a purpose based on its properties (e.g. glass for windows because it's transparent)
- Compare two materials and decide which is more suitable for a given use with reasoning
- Suggest an alternative material for an object and explain why it would or wouldn't work
1 · Read
Every material has its own properties, like hard, soft, see-through, waterproof, or light. When people choose a material for a job, they match its properties to what the job needs.
Try it together
Windows are made of glass. Glass is see-through, so light comes in and you can look outside. Wood is strong, but you cannot see through it, so a wooden window would leave the room dark with no view.
Try it together
Wellies are made of rubber, not paper. Rubber keeps water out and bends easily around your foot. Paper soaks up water and tears, so your feet would get cold and wet.
Before you pick a material, ask: what job does this thing need to do? Then find a material with the right properties for that job.
Good material choices match a material's properties to the job it has to do.
The rewritten readings were written for this dataset.
More to read
Match a roof to the weather
A roof shelters people from rain, snow and sunshine. Builders choose materials to suit that job.
Many roofs are pitched, which means sloping. The slope helps rain drain and snow slide away. Even roofs called flat need a slight slope for drainage. Their covering must prevent leaks if water collects.
Local weather matters too. Where heavy snow falls, the roof needs materials and support strong enough for its weight. In sunny, hot places, a covering that reflects heat can help.
Choose cord for your knots
In macrame, you knot cord to make things such as plant hangers and wall hangings. Choose your cord before you begin.
Soft cotton rope can stretch a little and suit a wall hanging. Cotton string or twine can make fine, small designs. Leather cord can be tough enough for a plant hanger, but its thickness and strength still matter.
A thin cord may break under a heavy load. Thick, stiff cord can make tiny knots difficult.
Fabric that fits a small doll
An old shirt sleeve can be useful when you make a doll's dress, if its cloth is soft and thin. That cloth bends around little arms and legs. It is also easier to cut into small shapes and stitch together. The sewn joins will not be so bulky.
Compare it with thick, stiff cloth used for winter coats. Coat cloth is harder to bend and can look bulky on a small doll.
Find a bag that can carry books
Your school bag holds books, papers and other supplies day after day. Its fabric must cope with weight and rubbing.
Weak, thin cloth can tear within weeks as books go in and out. Thick canvas or reinforced nylon can resist wear from books moving inside the bag. Look for fabric strong enough for what you carry.
Durable material may cost more and last longer, but price alone does not prove strength. Choose a bag built for everyday use with heavy school supplies.
2 · Watch
به انگلیسی3 · Play
به انگلیسی
Take it off screen
Print a worksheetA4 with an answer key page for grown-ups. No screen, no internet.
Where it sits
Where this leads
Jobs that lean on this skill. Follow one to see everything it is built on.
Then practise
24 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.