Smart materials
Unit 2 · Energy, materials, systems and devicesSee materials react to heat, light, force and electrical input. Modern versus smart, thermochromic and photochromic pigments, shape memory alloy, QTC and piezoelectric materials, with a 3D stimulus test bench. Click-by-click builds, answer reveals, and teacher notes and answers on every slide.
What this lesson covers
Modern versus smart, thermochromic and photochromic pigments, shape memory alloy, QTC and piezoelectric materials, with a 3D stimulus test bench. Click-by-click builds, answer reveals, and teacher notes and answers on every slide.
60-minute lesson, 20 slides. Part of DT Classroom’s GCSE Design and Technology course, taught through an interactive 3D lab rather than static slides alone.
Practise and extend
Also available for this lesson from the teacher resources: lesson slides, knowledge organiser, worksheet.
Exam board coverage
Where this lesson sits in each GCSE Design and Technology specification, as an indicative mapping by DT Classroom (not endorsed by any board - check the current specification before relying on it).
| Board | Specification reference |
|---|---|
| AQA | 3.1.3 Developments in new materials |
| Edexcel | 1.4 Modern and smart materials, composites and technical textiles |
| OCR | 5.1 Main categories of materials 2.2 Developments in D&T that influence design decisions |
| WJEC Eduqas | TP2 Smart materials, composites and technical textiles |
| Cambridge International | 2.1.5 Smart, modern and alternative materials 3.1.5 Smart, modern and alternative materials |
See the full specification map for every lesson and every board.
Other lessons in Energy, materials, systems and devices
DT Classroom is a GCSE Design and Technology course: interactive 3D lessons, teacher slide decks, worksheets and exam practice, built for pupils and teachers. Exam board references above are DT Classroom’s own indicative mapping, not provided or endorsed by AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR or WJEC Eduqas.