This unit, developed by the Third World Science Project, is designed to add a multicultural element to existing science syllabi (for students aged 11-16) in the United Kingdom. The project seeks to develop an appreciation of the: boundless fascination of the natural world; knowledge, skills, and expertise possessed by men/women everywhere; application of knowledge and skills to solve the practical problems of everyday life; impact of modern technology in the world; and the influence of the cultural background on the perception of knowledge, problems, and solutions. The unit consists of four sections and references. The first section considers events leading to the beginning of the Iron Age and smelting the ore today. A diagram showing a blast furnace operating and producing pig-iron is included. The second section is a discussion of iron-smelting in Uganda, an indigenous chemical industry that has been used to introduce African students to basic scientific principles. Provided in the third section are discussions of bellow making (including instructions for constructing bellows), iron-smelting, and end-products of the smelting process. The unit concludes with some suggested class activities, including the extraction of iron from iron ore. (JN)