Spencer Silver

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By Gillian Ravenscroft

This scientist, who features in the 2014 Science curriculum, invented the glue for sticky notes. Learn about how chemists create new materials.

Sticky notes

American Scientist Spencer Silver developed the glue for ‘sticky notes’ which can be repeatedly attached and peeled away from a surface. His name appears in the Notes and Guidance section accompanying the new Properties and Changes to Materials Unit in Year 5 – where it is recommended that pupils should find out about how chemists create new materials.

Silver’s work can be used to support the Programme of Study statements requiring that children should be taught to:
  • give reasons, based on evidence from comparative and fair tests, for the particular uses of everyday materials, including metals, wood and plastic
  • explain that some changes result in the formation of new materials, and that this kind of change is not usually reversible, including changes associated with burning and the action of acid on bicarbonate of soda.
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Reviews

This item has 3 stars of a maximum 5

Rated 3/5 from 37 ratings

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  1. hannah
    on 2 January 2018

    ok

    it didn't give me a lot of info that I needed but it gave info about what he created

    2 out of 5
  2. SAPPHIRE
    on 28 October 2017

    SPENCER SILVER

    IT GAVE ME ALOT OF IN FORMATION

    5 out of 5
  3. Mackenzie Ziegler
    on 23 September 2017

    ok

    Its just ok

    1 out of 5
  4. Musical.ly Queen
    on 2 May 2017

    ok

    I wanted to find out info on Spencer Silver for homework. This webpage gave me a clear explanation on what he created but that is all. Needs more information.

    2 out of 5
  5. Bossblitz
    on 1 December 2016

    Bad

    this was really bad information

  6. Sharon McDonnell
    on 6 March 2016

    Great start!

    Thank you- a great start for ideas to build on a very interesting and practical lesson!

    4 out of 5