TEACHERS INFORMATION ARMLEY MILLS LEARNING PACK KS1&2

THEME
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

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.
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.

4.1
Each of the six activities is planned to take about Material 4
15 minutes which can be extended with the Material: Yarn
additional activities. Pupils should be arranged into Use: To weave into cloth
small groups and each group should be assigned
a leader. Material 5
Materials you will need: Material: Bucket (Pigs Skin)
Copies of the appropriate trail Use: To contain liquids such as urine (during the
Note: please photocopy and bring with you on fulling process)
your visit Material 6
Clipboards
Material: Stone
Pencils
Use: To build solid structures such as buildings
Materials available at Armley Mills:
Materials you will need:
Laminated copies are available for loan
Copies of the picture investigation
Clipboards can be borrowed (please book) Note: Please photocopy and bring with you on
Trail box (includes string, tape measures, your visit
calculators and mirrors) Clipboards
Investigate Materials! Pencils

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.
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.

4.2
 KS1&2
InvestigaTe MatErIAlS! ACTIVITY

What am I?

Where am I?

What am I used for?

Properties: 1

Choose 2
from the listd
below or ad 3
your own!

What am I?

Where am I?

What am I used for?

Properties: 1

What am I?

Where am I?

What am I used for?

Properties: 1

Properties: Hard Soft Warm Cold Dense Weak

Strong Absorbent Flexible Tough Rigid

4.3
 InvestigaTe MatErIAlS!

What am I?

Where am I?

What am I used for?

Properties: 1

What am I?

Where am I?

What am I used for?

Properties: 1

What am I?

Where am I?

What am I used for?

Properties: 1

Properties: Hard Soft Warm Cold Dense Weak

Strong Absorbent Flexible Tough Rigid

4.4