Page 44 - Microsoft Word - 01 A. Sound Overview

Science Y1 – Managing materials – week 4

PLASTICS
Truth to Teach (Source)

God has given man the ability to create new materials out of unusual ‘ingredients.’

Way to Work (Means)

1. In our look at materials we have looked so far at wood and metals.
Where does wood come from? [Trees - a natural material - God has provided us with
lots of trees - need for replanting after cutting.]
Where does metal come from? [Treasure underground - ore – heating - metal. God has
stored ores underground.]

Today – plastic - different. Where does plastic come from?
God has helped people create this new material out of unusual ingredients. It is made
from crude oil – found under the ground!
A man-made material. It can be moulded into any shape.

Only been in common use since 1950’s.
Let us think about what it was like before there was plastic. Use the worksheet.
Children should write the material which might have been used before the invention of
plastic.

2. Explain that there are 2 main different types of plastic, and sort an array of objects
accordingly. Hard plastic and Flexible plastic
plug ruler

telephone cling film
tape recorder poly-bag etc.

3. Introduce the term advantage (good point), and consider the advantages of plastic
which an inventor or craftsman or –woman would need to keep in mind.
light; cheap; different colours; moulds easily. Would it rust? Could insects eat it?
Does it let water through? A spray. A stream. Compare plastic and cloth painting shirts.

Any disadvantages?
Can melt at high temperatures. Not as strong as many metals; can break. Explain that it
will not rot. Waste plastic is hard to get rid of.

It is a useful material for some things, but not for other things. A wise maker of things
knows the best material to use.

Learning for Life (Fulfilment)

To understand a little of where plastic comes from, its versatility as a modern material, and to
understand some of the issues of being responsible in disposing of it.

42