Students don’t spend much time thinking about where products come from, which can make materials processing a hard topic to bring up. Perhaps the best way to start a lesson is by looking at things around the room and figuring out what kind of natural resources went into them. Something as simple as blackboard chalk is a good starting point to begin talking about the issue of mineral wealth and the way that resources can become consumer products.
Once students get a grasp on what materials certain products are made from, they’ll be able to guess the raw materials that make up more complex goods. In today’s technologically advanced world, quite a few electronic components are made from a combination of silicon and metallic materials. Discussing this can open up the conversation to a greater appreciation of how much labor goes into the manufacture of almost every single kind of item found in a classroom.
Mapping The Resource Journey
Depending on the type of class you manage, you could consider taking students to observe a heavy equipment supplier first-hand. This would give them a new appreciation for how much work goes into extracting and processing materials. Engineers often talk about the entire materials processing workflow as being part of a journey, and this is an excellent way to start students learning more about how such a journey begins. Some schools might want to observe a local construction site or pretty much anywhere that someone is moving a significant amount of earth.
If you can’t get students out to a physical site, then you might consider using training films in class that show how raw materials are extracted from mines. Pick out two or three short clips so that your students can get a good idea of how this is done. Watching heavy equipment in action is certainly interesting, so this should make for an engaging class. They can then start to draw up charts or other visualizations that help to further illustrate the process of refining raw materials and turning them into finished goods. Those who don’t mind talking about a variety of topics may want to consider the economic implications of these business activities. Forward-thinking teachers can also look into other closely related topics.
Exploring Other Types of Materials
Not all raw materials are mined. There are some that are grown, such as cotton, and others that come from a variety of organic sources. Studying how these get refined is an excellent way to look further into the science of natural as well as synthetic chemical processes. Engineering and technical issues related to the transformation of matter through several states can open up even more doors. Though this might not initially sound like the kind of topic most high school classes would spend much time on, it’s obvious that a creative teacher could very well build an entire curriculum around this important subject matter. Even those that don’t will at least impart a greater appreciation for all of the consumer goods we have around us in today’s world.
It’s important for high school students to understand how raw materials are processed, and you can use the above ideas to teach them about the process.
