Year 7 - Design and technology
Material sustainability
Principles of materials and manufacturing
Study Hub
Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
Pupils will handle, shape and join sheet materials using different manufacturing processes. They will test and experiment with different mechanical fixing methods and adhesives and then use this knowledge to explain which choices are suitable and why.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to identify the sources of materials and assess their sustainability.
Key Notes
- Materials can be from natural or synthetic sources.
- Materials can be from renewable or non-renewable sources.
- Metal ores and polymers made from crude oil are non-renewable materials.
- Materials sourced from plants and animals are renewable.
- Recycling ensures that materials are useful for longer, before being discarded.
Vocabulary To Learn
- synthetic: manufactured, not naturally occurring
- sustainable: using resources wisely so that they do not run out
- renewable: resources that are non-finite and can replenish itself
- recycle: convert waste into reusable materials
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Recycling is good for the environment.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the lesson in two key points.
Materials can be from natural or synthetic sources. Materials can be from renewable or non-renewable sources.
2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'synthetic'
manufactured, not naturally occurring.
3. Correct this common mistake.
Mistake: Recycling is good for the environment. Correction: Recycling ensures that materials are useful for longer before being discarded, but the processing is an envionmental cost.
More Lessons In This Unit
Browse all guides in the Year 7 Design and technology guide library.