Lesson Plan

Resources → Subject Notes → Design and Technology → Notes
Lesson Plan
Grade: Date: 25/02/2026
Subject: Design and Technology
Lesson Topic: Types of materials: woods, metals, plastics, composites, smart materials
Learning Objective/s:
  • Describe the key properties, advantages and disadvantages of woods, metals, plastics, composites and smart materials.
  • Compare material properties using a reference table to determine suitability for specific design requirements.
  • Explain how environmental, cost and manufacturing considerations influence material selection.
  • Apply the material selection process to a brief design scenario, justifying the choice of material(s).
Materials Needed:
  • Projector or interactive whiteboard
  • Printed handouts of the material comparison table
  • Sample material specimens (wood block, metal piece, plastic sheet, composite panel)
  • Worksheets for material selection activity
  • Markers and sticky notes
 Introduction:
Begin with a quick visual of everyday objects made from different materials to spark curiosity. Ask students what factors they think influence the choice of material in product design. Explain that today they will explore five major material groups and learn criteria for selecting the most appropriate one. Success will be demonstrated by correctly justifying a material choice in a short design task.
Lesson Structure:
  1. Do‑Now (5') – Students list three products and identify the material they think each is made from; quick share.
  2. Teacher input (10') – Brief presentation covering woods, metals, plastics, composites and smart materials, highlighting key properties, pros/cons and typical uses (using slides and sample specimens).
  3. Comparative analysis activity (15') – In pairs, students fill a simplified comparison chart (density, strength, cost, recyclability) for the five material types.
  4. Design scenario (15') – Provide a brief brief (e.g., portable speaker). Groups discuss which material(s) best meet the design constraints and record their justification.
  5. Whole‑class debrief (10') – Groups present choices; teacher highlights correct reasoning and common misconceptions.
  6. Exit ticket (5') – Students write one material they would choose for a future project and the single most important property influencing that choice.
Conclusion:
Summarise how each material’s properties align with different design requirements and reinforce the importance of balancing performance, cost and sustainability. Collect the exit tickets as a quick retrieval check. Assign homework: research a real product and produce a short paragraph explaining the material selection rationale.