Teachers' Information for Metal

Here are some suggestions for metal related discussions and practical activities:

Activity 1: Valuable Metals

Why are some metals more valuable than others? Why might this influence which metal is chosen to make something? Are the processes of extracting or manufacturing the metals dangerous?

Activity 2: Design a Metal Object

Ask pupils to create a design inspired by any object on this website. Pupils could then recreate their design using aluminium foil.

Activity 3: Metals in Our Lives

The metals on this website are not mass produced and are all domestic in scale. Think about how metals are used in other, more industrial ways (cars, planes, buildings) and in things like computers. Emphasise their flexibility and how ubiquitous they are in our lives. Some even have medical uses (ie zinc and silver). Pupils could make a chart of the most common metals, listing their properties and what they are used for.

Activity 4: Tracing Metals

Choose an object from this category and trace it from mining the ore to manufacture. What processes did it go through?