Traditional Materials and Building: Learning from the Past

Science Grades 5th Grade 2:17 Video
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Lesson Description

Explore how people have used natural materials for thousands of years to meet their basic needs, focusing on traditional building techniques and the properties of different materials.

Video Resource

Combining Materials Part 3 1

Blouberg Ridge Primary

Duration: 2:17
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Natural Resources
  • Traditional Building Methods
  • Material Properties
  • Sustainability

Learning Objectives

  • Identify examples of traditional uses of natural materials.
  • Describe how different materials are processed for various purposes.
  • Explain how traditional building methods utilize locally available materials.
  • Understand the properties of materials like wood, clay, and straw.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by asking students what their homes are made of. Then, introduce the topic of traditional building materials and explain that people have been using natural resources to build homes and tools for thousands of years.
  • Video Viewing (10 mins)
    Play the "Combining Materials Part 3 1" video from Blouberg Ridge Primary. Ask students to pay attention to the types of materials used and how they are processed.
  • Discussion (10 mins)
    Lead a class discussion about the video. Focus on the types of materials mentioned (wood, clay, straw, animal skins), their properties, and how they were used traditionally. Discuss the concept of using locally available resources.
  • Activity: Building a Model Shelter (20 mins)
    Divide students into groups and provide them with materials like straws, cardboard, glue, and clay (if available). Have them design and build a model of a traditional shelter, using the information from the video as inspiration. Encourage them to explain why they chose specific materials and how they work together.
  • Wrap-up (5 mins)
    Have each group present their model and explain their design choices. Summarize the key concepts learned in the lesson and emphasize the importance of understanding material properties and using resources sustainably.

Interactive Exercises

  • Material Scavenger Hunt
    Have students identify and collect (or list) different natural materials found in their surroundings (e.g., leaves, twigs, soil). Then, discuss the potential uses of these materials.
  • Comparing Building Materials
    Create a chart comparing the properties (strength, flexibility, availability) of different traditional building materials like wood, clay, and straw. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Discussion Questions

  • What are some examples of natural materials that people use to build homes and make tools?
  • Why do you think people in the past relied on local materials?
  • How do the properties of different materials make them suitable for specific uses?
  • Can you think of any modern buildings that still use natural materials? What are the benefits?

Skills Developed

  • Observation
  • Critical Thinking
  • Problem-solving
  • Collaboration
  • Scientific Communication

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

What is one material that people have used for thousands of years to build homes and tools?

Correct Answer: Wood

Question 2:

What did people use animal skins for in the past?

Correct Answer: Making clothes and blankets

Question 3:

In traditional African homes, what material is often mixed with straw to make bricks?

Correct Answer: Clay

Question 4:

What is a round-shaped hut made by the EC Closer people called?

Correct Answer: Rondavel

Question 5:

What is the main material used to support the roof in traditional homes?

Correct Answer: Wood

Question 6:

What is the roof of the Rondavel made of?

Correct Answer: Branches, straw, or grass

Question 7:

What is the floor of the Rondavel made of?

Correct Answer: Animal dung and clay

Question 8:

What is mixed with mud to make it stronger?

Correct Answer: Straw

Question 9:

What were arrows traditionally made of?

Correct Answer: Wood or bone

Question 10:

What do people use gum poles for in the Rondavel?

Correct Answer: Building the frame of the roof

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

People have processed materials for __________ of years using natural materials.

Correct Answer: thousands

Question 2:

Animal skins were dried and made into _________ and used as clothing.

Correct Answer: leather

Question 3:

Traditional homes in Africa are often made of _______ and brick.

Correct Answer: clay

Question 4:

Mud is reinforced with ______ to make it stronger for building.

Correct Answer: straw

Question 5:

The main material used to support a load in traditional homes is _______.

Correct Answer: wood

Question 6:

The roof of a rondavel is thatched in a ________ shape.

Correct Answer: cone

Question 7:

The floor of the Rondavel is made of a mixture of animal dung and ________.

Correct Answer: clay

Question 8:

Bricks are made from straw and ________.

Correct Answer: clay

Question 9:

Arrows were made from wood or ________ and then later from metal.

Correct Answer: bone

Question 10:

The building and decoration of the hut are traditionally done by the _________.

Correct Answer: woman

Educational Standards

5.PS1.3:Make observations and measurements to identify materials based on their properties. 5.ESS3.1:Obtain and combine information about ways individual communities use science ideas to protect the Earth’s resources and environments.

Teaching Materials

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