Unit 2  Properties of Materials – Lesson 4 Design Task: Keeping the Rain Off

Design and Technologies

Can we make natural

materials waterproof?

1 Which tent would you prefer to camp in? List your reasons why.

Vocabulary

waterproof repel synthetic biodegradable

wax hydrophobic natural

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 Unit 2  Properties of Materials – Lesson 4 Design Task: Keeping the Rain Off
Design and Technologies

Materials needed

DESIGN TASK QUESTION 5

You will need to source:

• A piece of natural fabric, such as cotton,
linen or hessian. Canvas is a sturdy fabric
that works well. For a thinner, more flexible
material, an old pillowcase or shirt will work
(must be 100% cotton or linen and not a
polyester blend).
• Natural substances for waterproofing, such
as beeswax or linseed oil (Check with your
teacher as to what is available).
• An old paintbrush or rag for applying the
waterproofing substance.
• Newspaper to cover the work surface.
• Personal protective equipment – you
might like to wear gloves and/or a mask.
(The substances are safe, but sticky and
a bit smelly.)
• Tools to create your waterproof product. Beeswax is Linseed oil
These might include: scissors, craft glue made by worker is made from
or glue gun, a holepunch, string or thread. bees in beehives. flaxseeds.

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Unit 2 Properties of Materials – Design and Technologies Lesson 4 Design Task: Keeping the Rain Off

2 Watch the video of the amazing lotus plant.

3
2 When the water in the video touches the lotus leaf:

What do you
see happen?

What do you think

is happening?

What
do you
wonder
about it?

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 Unit 2 Properties of Materials – Design and Technologies Lesson 4 Design Task: Keeping the Rain Off

The leaves of the lotus plant are coated

in a special kind of wax that makes them
repel water. Instead of spreading out and
soaking in, the water forms balls and
rolls off (this carries dirt with it, which
also makes the lotus leaf self‑cleaning).
Designers and engineers often look
to copy nature when developing new
products. The lotus leaf effect has been The wax makes the lotus leaf
used to develop water‑repelling paints very hydrophobic (which means
and self-cleaning windows. water‑fearing in Greek).

4
a Make a list of waterproof items in your house, such as clothing, bags,
and other containers.

b Choose two different items from your list. Describe how they are waterproof. Is it
the material they are made from, or have they been painted or coated in any way?

Item 1:  Item 2: 

Most of the waterproof items we own are made

from synthetic materials such as polyester, nylon
or plastic. There are also many synthetic chemical
products available to spray or paint over surfaces
to make them waterproof. The problem with many
synthetic materials is that they are not biodegradable.

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 Unit 2 Properties of Materials – Design and Technologies Lesson 4 Design Task: Keeping the Rain Off

5
2 Your task is to apply a natural waterproofing substance to a natural material, and
then use your new, waterproofed material to design and produce a waterproof
container, cover or bag.

Design brief
Make a waterproof material and use it to design and make
a waterproof container, cover or bag.

Design criteria
Your container, cover or bag needs to be:
• Waterproof (using a natural waterproofing substance)
• Made from a natural material
• Designed to store, carry or protect a particular object
It could replace a container made from synthetic material.

Step 1: Investigate
Select your material and brainstorm some ideas of what you could make with it when
it is waterproofed. What needs to be protected from water? What synthetic products
could you replace?

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 Unit 2 Properties of Materials – Design and Technologies Lesson 4 Design Task: Keeping the Rain Off

Step 2: Generate
With your teacher’s assistance, decide how you will waterproof your material.
Describe this process below.

Waterproofing process

Now describe the steps you will take to make your product with your material.
Include a sketch of how you want it to look when you are finished.

Manufacturing process

Step 3: List the materials needed

Step 4: Produce
Waterproof your material, then make your product. Take photos or record a short
video of the process.

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Unit 2 Properties of Materials – Design and Technologies Lesson 4 Design Task: Keeping the Rain Off

Step 5: Test and refine

Test your product (How will you test to see if it is waterproof?). Place a tick or a cross
next to each of the success criteria in the checklist.
Name of product:  
What worked well?

What could be improved?

Step 6: Evaluate

Success criteria   
Waterproof
Made from a natural material
Successfully stores, carries or protects a chosen object
A good alternative to a synthetic container

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 Unit 2 Properties of Materials – Design and Technologies Lesson 4 Design Task: Keeping the Rain Off

6 Copying from nature when developing new technology is known as biomimicry.

Use the links to explore some examples of biomimicry. Draw and describe your
favourite example below.

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 Unit 2 Properties of Materials – Design and Technologies Lesson 4 Design Task: Keeping the Rain Off

7 Create a new technology using biomimicry of your own choice. Draw, label and
describe it, explain how it works and what natural feature or creature it’s modelled on.

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