Design and technologies / Year 7 and 8 / Design and Technologies Knowledge and Understanding

• TLF-IDM020570

How many different paper plane designs are there? Lots! Watch as Dylan Parker, paper plane expert, demonstrates some of his favourites. Notice the way the different shapes and features of the planes cause them to move through the air in different ways. Which one do you like the most? Why not have a go at making something similar?

• TLF-IDM021415

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.

• TLF-IDM021121

Figuring out how to clean up contaminated rivers is a big challenge. It's also tricky to work out where the most contaminated parts of a river system are and whether its fish are safe to eat. Watch this video and learn how engineering has helped to solve these problems. Why do you think engineers looked to the bottom of ...

• TLF-IDM020885

This thermal comfort learning resource will guide students through an extended school based investigation. Students will develop and implement a chosen sustainability action and then evaluate and reflect on their success and their learning.

• TLF-IDM020773

This is a video (5:08 min) about the importance of water to a fully-irrigated 1600ha farming and wine-producing enterprise on the banks of the Murray River and the effectiveness of its fully automated irrigation system. The enterprise is Andrew Peace Wines and the system was developed by WiSA. The video iillustrates viticulture ...

• TLF-IDM018361

Artificial lighting methods have changed with the invention of new lighting technologies designed to be more energy efficient and to reduce the use of resources. Since electricity has been used as an energy source, incandescent and fluorescent globes and, more recently, light emitting diodes (LEDs) have been used in our ...

• TLF-IDA006031

In this activity, students deconstruct broken household items and investigate their component parts, how items are constructed and the materials used, especially in relation to the challenges in repairing and recycling items made from multiple materials. The activity includes a list of what is required, suggestions of what ...

• TLF-IDA005660

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; ...

• TLF-IDA004898

Explore some of the costumes curated from the Adelaide Festival Centre’s performing arts collection. Find supporting information and discussion questions to inform conversations about design, and the ways in which performances are conceptualised.

• TLF-IDA002725

is lesson provides a great introduction to the idea of separating mixtures and enables students to consider separation as a process that operates on macroscopic levels. Students also learn about waste management and recycling processes in Australia. The lesson provides students with an opportunity to engage in hands-on ...