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  1. Subjects
  3. Design and technology
  5. Key stage 1
  7. Year 2
  9. Structures: A chair for a bear
  11. Lesson 3: How does the thickness of a material affect its strength?

Lesson 3: How does the thickness of a material affect its strength?

Testing how stiff or flexible materials are when they have a different thickness.

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Two piles of books spaced around 15cm apart with a piece of paper folded twice and laid across the books like a bridge. There are six connecting cubes placed on the paper bridge and it is bending slightly.
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In this unit

  • Assessment – D&T Y2: A chair for a bear

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  • Lesson 1: All about chairs!

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  • Lesson 2: How does the shape of something affect its strength?

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  • Current lesson

    Lesson 3: How does the thickness of a material affect its strength?

  • Lesson 4: Making a chair for a bear

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  • Lesson 5: Evaluating, improving and finishing a chair for a bear

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Created by: Kapow Primary Team | Maintained by: Kapow team
Last update: 27 March 2026
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