Why is recycling and reusing materials important? Objective Students will be able to: • Explain the importance of metal and blacksmiths to people living in the American West from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. • Explain how the people who worked with and made metal objects changed over time in relation to changing transportation systems, production methods, and economic factors. • Hypothesize ways to repair or repurpose objects they use every day, and demonstrate an awareness of skills, materials, and knowledge needed to accomplish this. Background Metal was a material critical to life in Duration: 60 Minutes.