Fit For Purpose

This activity, from the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), explores the qualities and/or properties which make a material fit for purpose. The resource is designed to allow students to:

• understand that materials can be designed and made to specific characteristics and purposes
• be able to identify the properties of materials required for a specific function
• explore a range of engineered materials, understanding why and how they have been developed

This activity comprises a series of short, focused tasks. These could either be used individually as starters or extension activities, or could be grouped together to create a ‘learning experience’, or even could be expanded to longer learning activities, depending on the teachers' and students’ needs. With a strong emphasis on developing creative thinking, this activity requires students to be creative when applying knowledge and understanding in science to a design and technology context.

The activity is supported by the following:

Engineered materials contain a number of pictures and students asked to identify the key properties of the materials from the products they have been made into.

Fit for purpose asks how do ten materials shown ensure the products are fit for purpose.

A designer materials worksheet and a podcast entitled How things fly.

The activity is part of a full set of resources called D30 and is supported by the the video Amazing D30.