| Lesson Plan |
| Grade: |
Date: 25/02/2026 |
| Subject: Design and Technology |
| Lesson Topic: The significance of the following material properties in terms of use as part of a product: hardness, ductility, toughness, brittleness, elasticity, malleability, dimensional stability, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, corrosion resista |
Learning Objective/s:
- Describe the significance of each listed material property for product performance.
- Compare how hardness, ductility, toughness and brittleness influence design decisions.
- Explain how electrical and thermal conductivity and corrosion resistance affect material selection for specific environments.
- Apply the property matrix to select appropriate materials for a given design brief.
- Evaluate trade‑offs between competing properties during the design process.
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Materials Needed:
- Projector and screen
- Whiteboard and markers
- Printed handouts of the material‑property table
- Sample material specimens (metal rod, plastic sheet, ceramic tile)
- Worksheets for property‑selection activity
- Laptop with internet access for research
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Introduction:
Begin with a short video showing a product failure caused by an inappropriate material choice, then ask students what went wrong. Review prior knowledge of basic material concepts from earlier lessons. State that by the end of the session they will be able to identify key properties and justify material choices.
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Lesson Structure:
- Do‑now (5'): Students complete a quick quiz on material‑property definitions displayed on the board.
- Mini‑lecture (15'): Teacher presents each property’s design significance using slides and real‑world examples.
- Guided analysis (10'): Class examines the provided table, highlighting how each property influences product performance.
- Group activity (20'): Teams receive a design brief, use handouts and sample specimens to shortlist suitable materials and note trade‑offs.
- Whole‑class debrief (10'): Groups share selections, discuss compromises, and answer teacher questions.
- Exit ticket (5'): Each student writes the single property most critical for their product and justifies the choice.
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Conclusion:
Summarise how understanding material properties guides reliable product design and how trade‑offs are managed. Students complete an exit ticket summarising the most critical property for their design. Assign homework to research a real product and produce a brief report on the material choices made.
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