Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v5 - Grade 5

Lesson Video

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Performance objectives

• Identify different processing methods.
• Design a simple product using local materials.
• Describe the steps to process raw materials.
• Construct a basic model of your design.
• Explain the importance of processing in our communities.

Lesson summary

In this week's lesson, we will be diving into the fascinating world of processing. Processing, in the context of Natural Sciences and Technology, refers to the actions we take to change raw materials into something useful. Think about taking maize from the field and turning it into mealie meal, or taking clay from the ground and shaping it into a pot. This week, we will be focusing on the design and making of simple products. Understanding processing is vital because it allows us to take the resources around us and create things we need in our daily lives, contributing to our community and the South African economy. From building houses to making clothes, processing is everywhere!

Lesson notes

Processing involves a series of actions that change raw materials into something more useful. These actions can be physical, chemical, or biological. For Grade 5, we will focus on physical processing methods.

Key Concepts: Raw Materials: These are the basic, unprocessed materials that we find in nature, such as wood, clay, wool, maize, or sand.

Processing: This is the set of actions or steps we take to change raw materials into finished products. Processing can involve cutting, shaping, mixing, heating, cooling, and many other techniques.

Product: This is the final, usable item that results from processing raw materials.

Design: A plan or drawing produced to show the look and function or workings of a building, garment, or other object before it is built or made.

Examples of Processing Methods: Cutting: Separating materials into smaller pieces using tools like knives, saws, or scissors. For example, cutting wood to build a structure or cutting fabric to make clothing.

Shaping: Changing the form of a material by bending, molding, hammering, or pressing. Examples include shaping clay into a pot, bending wire into a frame, or hammering metal into a tool.

Mixing: Combining two or more materials together to create a new substance. For example, mixing cement, sand, and water to make concrete.

Joining: Fastening two or more materials together using glue, nails, screws, string, or other methods. For example, joining pieces of wood with nails to build a table or sewing fabric together to make a shirt.

Heating: Applying heat to a material to change its properties. For example, firing clay in a kiln to make it hard and durable, or cooking food to make it edible.

Worked example

Example 1: Making a Toy Car

Raw Materials: Cardboard box, bottle caps, skewers, glue, paint.

Design: Draw a simple car design including body, wheels and axles.

Processing Steps:

Cutting: Cut the cardboard box into the shape of a car body (with assistance from an adult where appropriate). Cut the skewers to appropriate lengths for axles.

Shaping: You might need to slightly bend the cardboard to make the body more curved.

Joining: Glue the bottle caps to the ends of the skewers to form the wheels. Glue the skewers to the underside of the cardboard car body.

Decorating: Paint the car to give it colour and add details.

Product: A toy car.

Example 2: Making a Simple Basket

Raw Materials: Reeds or grass.

Design: Sketch a basic basket shape.

Processing Steps:

Gathering: Collect reeds or grass from a suitable area (with permission and supervision).

Sorting: Choose reeds of a similar length and thickness.

Bending and Shaping: Bend the reeds into a circular or oval shape to form the base of the basket.

Weaving: Weave other reeds around the base, gradually building up the sides of the basket.

Joining: Tie off the ends of the reeds to secure the basket.

Product: A simple basket.

Example 3: Making a Mud Brick

Raw Materials: Soil, water, straw or grass

Design: A rectangular brick shape.

Processing Steps:

Mixing: Mix the soil, water, and straw together to form a thick mud.

Shaping: Press the mud into a brick-shaped mold.

Drying: Allow the bricks to dry in the sun for several days until they are hard.

Product: A mud brick. These can be used for building walls.

Guided Practice (With Solutions)

Question 1: Imagine you want to make a simple pencil holder. You have an empty tin can, some colorful paper, and glue. Describe the processing steps you would take to make the pencil holder.