Which materials can be squashed, twisted or bent according to need? - Presentation

A comprehensive exploration into the malleability of various materials is presented in a unit designed to help students understand how certain substances can be manipulated. The focus is on discovering which materials can be squashed, twisted, or bent according to need. The unit begins by examining materials that can be twisted without the application of heat, followed by an investigation into their ability to stretch and then be squashed. Students are encouraged to initially consider five specific materials—wood, plastic, brick, glass, and metal—and their responsiveness to bending, stretching, and twisting, both naturally and when heat is applied.

As the lesson progresses, students delve deeper into the properties of these five materials, recording their observations and drawing illustrations to represent the changes they undergo. The materials are categorized based on their behaviour when subjected to bending, stretching, and twisting, with a focus on whether they retain their altered state or revert to their original shape. The unit aims to provide students with a practical understanding of material properties, equipping them with the knowledge of how to make the most of the materials around them by understanding their capabilities and limitations when it comes to being reshaped for various needs.