Lesson 1 Why are metals useful? (BOOK IT BASE FOR THE LESSON)
ILOs
to be able to describe the properties of metals and non-metals
to be able to suggest what makes a particular metal useful
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Powerpoint U14.1P1 can be used to support this lesson
Activities
1) Get pupils to name some metals and non-metals. Also show pupils a range of metal and
non-metal elements and describe uses of some of them. Discuss the properties of
metals and non-metals – pupils should be encouraged to try to list as many properties as
possible, before too much assistance is given. E.g metals are malleable, ductile, shiny,
good conductors of heat and electricity, sonorous, high mp and bp etc - non-metals are
brittle and poor conductors of both heat and electricity (Ask if there are any
exceptions – see if any come up with carbon as a conductive non-metal or Na, K , Li as low
density metals?)
Pupils could complete the worksheet U14.1W1. P99 Spectrum chemistry is a good aid to
this.
2) Discuss where metals come from and what they are used for. Ask pupils to think of a
metal, where they have seen it used and what properties made it useful for its purpose
e.g why is silver used for jewellery? Why is aluminium used in aircrafts?
3) Pupils pick a metal element and produce a factsheet on it. The factsheet must
include where the metal comes from, what it is used for and what makes it useful for
those purposes. IT Base could be used here for some information – no copy and
paste.
Pupils could use the internet to research their metal and finish their factsheet for
homework.
Resources:
Spectrum Chemistry P99-100
Activity
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Resources Lesson 1
Spectrum Chemistry.
Demo
Samples of: iron; sulphur; iodine; carbon; zinc; magnesium;
copper; oxygen (sealed test-tube of air);lead; aluminium; tin.
none
IT base, A4 plain paper, crayons