This theme is designed to complement the primary

Science, Design and Technology Curriculum. This

theme is best delivered alongside the expert led
workshop Marvellous Materials, although the trail
could be used as a stand alone activity. The
workshop is available to book though the
Museums Learning & Access Officer.
WORKSHOP
The Marvellous Materials workshop is led by
a member of the museum staff investigating
materials with year 1-4 pupils. The activities
include: exploring different materials in the
museum (using senses and developing
vocabulary), investigating the properties of wool
and undertaking simple experiments to explore
a range of materials and their properties.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Leeds Industrial Museum at Armley Mills lends
itself heavily to the Science Curriculum.
Themes that are covered well by the collections
include:
Power Water power, steam power, electricity
with a view to look at future supplies, renewable
energy and effect on the environment.
Materials As the Mill is so large and
encompasses such a variety of collections, this
offers opportunities to investigate different
materials and their different uses.
4.1
Engineering Leeds is recognised as being at the
forefront of British engineering in some areas such
as textiles machinery and steam power, which was
driven by some of the finest mechanical minds like
that of Matthew Murray.
PRE VISIT ACTIVITIES
Discuss the following in class:
The kind of things you will expect to find in an
Industrial Mill/Museum: textiles materials, big
machines, small machines, raw materials i.e.
wool
The difference between being able to see and
touch materials and simply talking about them:
smell, 3D vision, feeling...
GALLERY ACTIVITIES
Marvellous Materials Trail
This printed trail for KS2 pupils
complements the materials
workshop available at the
Museum. The trail includes an
A3 photocopiable sheet for
pupils, additional notes and
activity ideas for teachers and
group leaders. The activities
include: grouping materials,
sequencing, exploring
magnetic materials and using
keys to identify materials.
4
T
H
E
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TEACHERS INFORMATION
ARMLEY MILLS LEARNING PACK
KS1&2
Marvellous Materials
Curriculum Links: Science, Technology
Learning Objectives:
To recognise the different characteristics of materials
To be able to sort and group a variety of materials
To recognise that materials have different properties and can be used for different purposes
Gallery Activities Galleries/Spaces
Marvellous Materials Trail Textiles Gallery, Tailoring Gallery, Cinematography Gallery,
Locomotives Gallery, Colour Garden
Materials Investigation Textiles Gallery
4.2
Each of the six activities is planned to take about
15 minutes which can be extended with the
additional activities. Pupils should be arranged into
small groups and each group should be assigned
a leader.
Materials you will need:
Copies of the appropriate trail
Note: please photocopy and bring with you on
your visit
Clipboards
Pencils
Materials available at Armley Mills:
Laminated copies are available for loan
Clipboards can be borrowed (please book)
Trail box (includes string, tape measures,
calculators and mirrors)
Investigate Materials!
Pupils can explore the site to find these materials
and find out more about their properties.
The answers are:
Material 1
Material: Unprocessed Wool
Use: To be processed and turned into yarn
Material 2
Material: Bobbin (Wood)
Use: To wind the wool around
Material 3
Material: Teasles (Natural Plants)
Use: Raises the pile (nap) on cloth once it has
been woven to make it softer. If you then crop the
pile it makes the cloth smoother.
This process may be repeated to make the cloth
even smoother i.e. for billiard table cloth.
Material 4
Material: Yarn
Use: To weave into cloth
Material 5
Material: Bucket (Pigs Skin)
Use: To contain liquids such as urine (during the
fulling process)
Material 6
Material: Stone
Use: To build solid structures such as buildings
Materials you will need:
Copies of the picture investigation
Note: Please photocopy and bring with you on
your visit
Clipboards
Pencils
Materials available at Armley Mills:
Laminated copies of the images are available
for loan
Clipboards can be borrowed (please book)
POST VISIT ACTIVITIES
Material Collectors!
Pupils should collect different objects or samples
of things from their own homes that represent
things that they use every day.
The collection can be as diverse as possible,
extending from metal cutlery and samples of
textiles materials to items from their rubbish bins!
Pupils should think of an imaginative way to
arrange their materials.
Pupils should describe the materials; their uses and
why they think those materials have been used to
make those objects.
Properties: Hard Soft Warm Cold Dense Weak
Strong Absorbent Flexible Tough Rigid
4.3
What am I?
Where am I?
What am I used for?
Properties: 1
2
3
What am I?
Where am I?
What am I used for?
Properties: 1
2
3
What am I?
Where am I?
What am I used for?
Properties: 1
2
3
InvestigaTe MatErIAlS!
KS1&2
ACTIVITY
Choose
from the list
below or add
your own!
4.4
What am I?
Where am I?
What am I used for?
Properties: 1
2
3
What am I?
Where am I?
What am I used for?
Properties: 1
2
3
What am I?
Where am I?
What am I used for?
Properties: 1
2
3
InvestigaTe MatErIAlS!
Properties: Hard Soft Warm Cold Dense Weak
Strong Absorbent Flexible Tough Rigid