Year 7/8 Design Technology in action!

Self Cleaning windows? Colour changing nail varnish? Fact or Fiction?

We have been doing some interactive theory lessons this week in Design Technology with some year 7 and 8 classes. 

We have been looking at 'Smart Materials'. Which are materials that react to a stimulus like heat, light or movement in an unusual way. 

The different materials that students got to investigate included:

• Thermochromic - changes colour when heated
• Hydrochromic - changes colour when water is applied
• Photochromic - Changes colour when in UV light
• Polymorph - which changes to a shapeable putty in hot water, along with a few others.  

They then made use of their laptops to digitally complete a worksheet with questions on the different materials. 

The students loved getting hands on with the materials and learned a lot about new and innovative materials out there.