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These resources have been reviewed and selected by STEM Learning’s team of education specialists for factual accuracy and relevance to teaching STEM subjects in UK schools.
Modern Materials
This resource uses the context of the British Challenge for the America's Cup to explore composite and nano materials. The video uses the challenge to build the highest performing racing yacht as an introduction to composite materials and how they are designed to improve their properties for a specific use. This could be in the context of the materials used to build the boat or in the crew's clothing. There is a good section on how to make fibre glass and carbon fibre reinforced plastic and comparing their properties and linking them to their use. Toward the end of the video (4 minutes) the use of nano technology in nano composites is discussed. The video finishes by highlighting the environmental issues around the disposal of composites.
The resource includes a teacher guide and presentation which support several student worksheets and an activity where students build a boat to carry as much mass as possible. In student worksheet 1 students note the properties of different materials used in various parts of the boat or the crew's clothing. This theme is continued in student worksheet 2 where students label where certain materials are used. Student worksheet 3 is used to support the student boat building activity by encouraging students to discuss and explore their design ideas. Student worksheet 4 is a variation on a similar theme where students are asked to identify the properties of various parts of the boat, but in this case they analyse a table of numerical data about various materials to identify the best materials for particular uses. Student worksheet 5 a higher level differentiation of student worksheet 4.
The contextual challenge student workbook is useful for extending the theme of designing a racing yacht into an iterative design process which could extend over several weeks either in design and technology lessons or at an after school club.
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Downloads
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Modern materials teacher guide 325.92 KB
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Student worksheet 1 3.73 MB
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Student worksheet 2 2.44 MB
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Student worksheet 3 310.6 KB
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Student worksheet 4 638.21 KB
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Student worksheet 4- Answers 315.56 KB
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Student worksheet 5 640.66 KB
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Student worksheet 5 - Answers 298.41 KB
Show downloads
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Modern materials teacher guide 325.92 KB -
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Student worksheet 1 3.73 MB
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Student worksheet 2 2.44 MB
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Student worksheet 3 310.6 KB
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Student worksheet 4 638.21 KB
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Student worksheet 4- Answers 315.56 KB
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Student worksheet 5 640.66 KB
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Student worksheet 5 - Answers 298.41 KB
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Download all files as a .zip17.35 MB
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