At some point in teaching ESL you will have to discuss materials (stone, cement, plastic, wood, ceramic, cloth, flesh, gas etc.) and will have to get across the idea of metals.

If you don't have a selection of metals to show the kids the best way I have found is to use the periodic table names or codes for the common metals. It is universally taught in science classes to kids at about 12-13 years of age.

So Fe is iron or steel, Cu is copper, Ag is gold and Au is silver.

This has worked for me many times.

If stuck pull out a coin, and this may help. Many low value coins are made of copper or aluminium Al.

Copyright 2006 Robin Day