An electric kettle has five main parts: a cylindrical plastic and metal container for holding water, a plastic handle, a flat circular metal base, an on/off switch on the handle, and an electrical cord connecting the base to an outlet. It boils water by heating the container which typically holds 1.5 liters of water and has a diameter of 6 inches and height of 10 inches while the base is 6 inches in diameter and 1 inch high. Kettles are often silver or white in color and have a spout at the top of the container for pouring and a lid and handle that are curved in shape.

1. Describing an Object – Electric
Kettle
FSP Unit 8
Materials Office

2. There are FIVE topics in a complete
object description:
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•
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Function / Use
Components / Parts
Physical Characteristics (5 subtopics)
Position of components
Connection between components

3. 1: Function / Use
• Gives the definition and use
of the object.
An electric kettle is a kitchen tool that is used
for boiling water.

4. 2: Components / Parts
• Describe all the parts of the
object.
It is made up of a container, a handle, a base, an
on/off switch, and an electrical cord.
It consists of five main parts: a container, a handle,
a base, an on/off switch, and an electrical cord.

5. 3: Characteristics
• There are five types of
characteristics:
– Material
– Shape
– Dimensions / Size
– Special Properties
– Color

6. 3: Characteristics
A. Material – what types of
materials are things made of, and
why?
Metal (steel, iron, aluminum),
Plastic, Wood, Glass,
Fabric (cotton, leather, silk), etc
The kettle is made of plastic, aluminum, and metal
electrical parts. The handle is plastic in order to
not conduct heat.

7. 3: Characteristics
B. Shape – What shape is the
object and the components?
The kettle’s main container is cylindrical and
the base is flat and circular.

8. 3: Characteristics
C. Dimensions – What SIZE are
the object and the components?
The kettle is 10 inches high, and its diameter is
6 inches. The base also has a 6-inch diameter
and a height of 1 inch. The kettle holds 1.5
liters of water.

9. 3: Characteristics
D. Special Properties – any
important properties of the object.
Hollow / solid
Fragile / sturdy
Straight / curved
Plain / decorated
The kettle is hollow in order to hold water.
The lid and handle are curved.

10. 3: Characteristics
E. Color
Metallic (silver, gold)
Black, pink, white, etc..
Kettles can be many colors but the most
popular are silver and white.

11. 4: Position of
components
• Describes where the components
are located. Uses PREPOSITIONS
of location.
The on/off switch is on the handle. There is a
spout at the top of the container for pouring
water.

12. 5: Connections
between components
• Describes how the components
are connected together.
The water container sits on top of the base
but they are not connected. The electric cord
leads from the base to the electric outlet.