PRIMARY 5: BASIC SCIENCE – THIRD TERM | WEEK 1

TOPIC: MATERIALS – MEANING, TYPES AND USES

A: TEACHING AND LEARNING MATERIALS

1. Samples of wood, metal, plastic, glass and rubber.
2. Pictures of objects made from different materials.
3. Flashcards.
4. Charts showing natural and man-made materials.
5. Pupils’ notebooks and pencils.

B: REFERENCE MATERIALS

1. Scheme of work.
2. Recommended Basic Science textbook for Primary 5.
3. Online educational resources.

C: PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE

The pupils have seen and used different objects made from wood, metal, glass, plastic, rubber and other materials in their homes and schools.

D: PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

1. Explain the meaning of materials.
2. Identify common materials in the environment.
3. Differentiate between natural and man-made materials.
4. State some properties of common materials.
5. Mention uses of different materials.
6. Explain why particular materials are chosen for specific purposes.

E: CONTENT

Meaning of Materials

Materials are substances from which objects are made. For example:

• A chair may be made from wood.
• A spoon may be made from metal.
• A bottle may be made from glass or plastic.
• A tyre is mainly made from rubber.

Types of Materials

Materials may be grouped into:

Natural Materials

Natural materials are obtained from nature. Examples include:

• Wood.
• Cotton.
• Leather.
• Clay.
• Stone.

Man-Made Materials

Man-made materials are produced or processed by humans. Examples include:

• Plastic.
• Glass.
• Nylon.
• Cement.
• Some synthetic fabrics.

Properties of Common Materials

Different materials have different properties. Wood may be:

• Hard.
• Strong.
• Easy to shape.

Metal may be:

• Strong.
• Hard.
• Shiny.
• A good conductor of heat.

Glass may be:

• Transparent.
• Smooth.
• Brittle.

Rubber may be:

• Flexible.
• Waterproof.
• Elastic.

Plastic may be:

• Light.
• Waterproof.
• Easy to shape.

Uses of Materials

Materials are selected according to their properties. Examples:

• Glass is used for windows because it is transparent.
• Metal is used for cooking pots because it can withstand heat.
• Rubber is used for tyres because it is flexible and tough.
• Wood is used for furniture because it is strong and easy to shape.

F: LESSON PRESENTATION

F1: Teachers’ Activities

1. Displays different materials.
2. Explains the meaning of materials.
3. Identifies natural and man-made materials.
4. Discusses the properties of common materials.
5. Shows objects made from different materials.
6. Explains why certain materials are suitable for particular uses.

F2: Pupils’ Activities

1. Observe different material samples.
2. Name the materials.
3. Group materials into natural and man-made.
4. Describe their properties.
5. Mention objects made from each material.
6. Explain why certain materials are suitable for particular objects.

G: CONCLUSION

The teacher revises the meaning, types, properties and uses of materials. The teacher encourages pupils to observe the different materials used to make objects around them.

H: EVALUATION GUIDE

Pupils should be able to answer the following questions:

1. What are materials?
2. Mention four natural materials.
3. Mention four man-made materials.
4. State two properties of glass.
5. State two properties of rubber.
6. Why is glass used for windows?
7. Mention three objects made from metal.