Lesson Plan

• Describe the key mechanical and environmental properties of common resistant materials.
• Analyse material data to evaluate suitability for specific design requirements.
• Apply a systematic material‑selection checklist to choose an appropriate material for a given product.
• Justify material choices using property comparisons, cost and manufacturability considerations.

• Projector and screen
• Printed handouts of the material property table
• Sample material specimens (wood, mild steel, aluminium, polycarbonate)
• Worksheet with the material‑selection checklist
• Calculators, rulers and digital scales
• Whiteboard and markers

Begin by asking students to name everyday tools that break when dropped, linking the discussion to material failure. Review briefly the properties covered in the previous lesson. State that today they will learn to evaluate those properties and select the most suitable material, with success measured by a justified material‑choice report.

1. Do‑Now (5') – Quick quiz on strength, stiffness and hardness definitions.
2. Teacher input (10') – Overview of the nine key properties of resistant materials with real‑world examples.
3. Group activity (15') – Examine the provided material table; each group extracts data for two materials and creates a comparison chart.
4. Case study (10') – Guided walk‑through of the portable hand‑tool example, highlighting how the checklist narrows choices.
5. Checklist practice (10') – Groups complete the material‑selection checklist for a new product brief (e.g., lightweight bike frame).
6. Whole‑class discussion (5') – Groups present their chosen material and justification.
7. Exit ticket (5') – Individually write one sentence summarising why their selected material best meets the brief.

Recap the link between material properties and product performance, emphasizing the systematic checklist as a decision‑making tool. Collect exit tickets to gauge understanding, and assign homework: each student must produce a brief material‑selection report for a product of their choice, applying the checklist and justifying their decision.