Metals, Stages One and Two

The Science 5/13 unit Metals, stages one and two, describes practical situations and enquiries in which children’s attention is focused on the use and properties of metals. In this unit, activities for stage one and stage two are in separate sections and written in contrasting styles. The stage one activities are set out to exemplify how various activities are related to a selection of the Science 5/13 Objectives for children learning science. The stage two activities are arranged according to the properties of metals.

Contents
1. Introduction

2. Starting points – how do we begin? How do we continue?
2.1 Difficulties
2.2 A summary of the types of starting points
2.3 A few starting points which have been found to be useful in stimulating children's interest
2.4 Leading on from the start
2.5 Teaching techniques

3. Thinking about objectives for Stages 1 and 2

4. Stage 1 classroom activities, teaching experience and situations related to the objectives

5. Stage 2 Classroom activities
5.1 What are metals used for?
5 2.The nature of metals
5.3 Metals, electricity and magnetism
5.4 What happens to metals if…? Work on change
5.5 Why are metals used? How suitable are they?
5.6 A little history
5.7 Where do metals come 'from?

Appendices – including a list of materials which might be useful
Objectives for Children Learning Science
Index

Background Book
The Science 5/13 publication Metals Background Information accompanied the Unit for teachers Metals Stages One and Two. The aim of producing background material about metals was to enable teachers to look at their environment in a slightly different way, making the study of metals of interest to children. Although the book is for teachers, it was stated that most of the background material could be, and has been, introduced into classroom teaching in some form and had been found useful by teachers. The appendices list books for teachers and other sources, current in 1973 but now clearly out of date.

Contents
1. General preface to metals
2. Introduction or ‘What are we studying?
3. What is a metal?
4. The physical properties of metals
5. The chemical properties of metals
6. Where do we find metals?
7. How we get our metals
8. The shaping of metals
9. Practical help
10. Uses of metals related to their properties
11. Improved metals
Appendices
Index

• URL: http://stem.org.uk/rx4vm