Design and Technologies / Year 7 and 8 / Knowledge and understanding / Technologies context: Materials and technologies specialisations

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Curriculum content descriptions

analyse how characteristics and properties of materials, systems, components, tools and equipment can be combined to create designed solutions (AC9TDE8K06)

Elaborations
  • investigating the significance of hafting in First Nations Australians’ traditional toolkit, including how the characteristics and properties of materials are combined to create a designed solution, for example modern hatchets have seen little innovation since the hafted stone hatchet that combines the benefits of a lever and a wedge to create durable tools that reduce effort
  • investigating aspects of technologies specialisations, for example in architecture, critiquing the design of an existing building to identify features of passive design or, in fashion, evaluating the sustainability of different fibres
  • investigating a broad range of technologies – tools, equipment, processes, materials, systems and components − when designing for a range of technologies contexts, for example analysing the benefits and disadvantages of building an animal shelter such as a dog kennel with wood, metal and synthetic fabric in terms of function, tools and equipment needed to produce it and expected durability
  • considering the ways in which the characteristics and properties of technologies will impact on designed solutions, for example the choice of building materials and housing design in Australia and a country in Asia; the properties of textile fibres and fabrics that determine end use in a range of settings such as architecture, medicine, sport and automotive
  • explaining safe work practices for using specific equipment or materials, for example producing a safety information video that details risk management practices for using tools or equipment including considering how the properties of some materials suit certain designs and may cause harm if manipulated in an unsafe way in the classroom or within a community such as ventilation when sanding timber
  • testing and selecting the most appropriate hand tools, equipment, processes and materials to produce a product, for example a stool or smartphone stand that can be assembled from bending and interlocking cardboard pieces or from wood using a laser cutter or other digital tools
  • investigating carbon fibres (reinforced polymers) and graphite fibres which are strong, stiff, lightweight material used in specialised high-performance products, for example on the design of sporting equipment
General capabilities
  • Critical and creative thinking Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Literacy Literacy
ScOT terms

Systems thinking,  Materials,  Fibres (Materials),  Engineering,  Tools

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20 direct matches to AC9TDE8K06

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This resource includes films showing Gareth Neal’s processes in terms of designing furniture. Use it to demonstrate ways of recording creative ideas and observations in sketchbooks, journals and other media. Students also discuss the films about Neal's use of traditional sources in his design.

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PRIMED Technologies - Year 7

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This set of learning activities focus on the materials and technology aspects of forestry and the timber industry. Students explore the timber industry and its related social, environmental and economic factors; explore the properties of various timber species and make links between material properties and common uses; ...

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Water games

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Sustainable classrooms

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In this set of learning activities, students explore how the environmental impact of human development can be reduced in the context of their school’s use of energy and material resources. Students have the opportunity to make positive, practical and actionable changes at a school level. They engage in planning for greater ...

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From paddock to plate

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In this resource, students learn about the steps in the red meat ‘paddock to plate’ supply chain and how technologies can target areas within the chain to improve production. This lesson is part of a sequence of lessons that can be used with this age-group of students. Topics include Managing sustainable red meat production; ...

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Managing Australian red meat

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This resource focuses mainly on the Design and Technologies curriculum. Sustainability as a cross-curriculum priority is emphasised. Topics include Managing sustainable red meat production; Feeding strategies and product quality; Management of plants and animals; Where does Australian meat go?; From paddock to plate; and ...

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Flight Club: Teacher Resource Book

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Thinking Outside the Box - the Sustainable Seating Project

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Rebuild a community - teacher resource kit

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Costumes of the Performing Arts Collection

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Sandcastle ratios

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Reverse engineering

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This series of short videos from Khan Academy deconstruct and explain the way household items are designed and how they work including a digital alarm clock radio, a coffee maker, a tap light (a toggle switch light), a hair dryer, a DVD player, a universal remote and a digital camera.

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Engineering clean rivers

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Precision Sheep Management: video

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