Design and technologies / Foundation to Year 2 / Design and Technologies Processes and Production Skills

Curriculum content descriptions

Generate, develop and record design ideas through describing, drawing and modelling (ACTDEP006)

Elaborations
  • comparing and contrasting features of existing products to provide new ideas, for example exploring toys with several movable parts with the view to designing and making a simple puppet with one movable part
  • communicating design ideas by modelling, and producing and labelling two-dimensional drawings using a range of technologies to show different views (top view and side view), for example a new environment such as a cubby house or animal shelter
  • recording a judgement about design ideas with teacher guidance, for example expressing own likes and dislikes about a design idea
  • identifying one common testing method, and recording results, for example taste-testing comparisons of a food product and recording results in a digital form
  • describing how design ideas meet the needs of those who will use the solution
General capabilities
  • Literacy Literacy
  • Numeracy Numeracy
  • Critical and creative thinking Critical and creative thinking
ScOT terms

Problem solving,  Technical drawing,  Modelling,  Design briefs,  Graphic arts

Video

Chicken farming in the living world: Stage 1

Chickens are fascinating animals and provide students with an interesting subject matter to discuss the many aspects of our living world. This video for students explores the question 'How do humans use plants and animals?' and comprises a series of modules and supporting videos. Students will plan, design and create a ...

Video

Use your creative thinking skills!

Ashwini Ranjithabalan from Women in Engineering and IT at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) sees engineering as the business of solving future problems. What are some of the challenges we (and our societies) might face in the future? Get some friends together and see if you can brainstorm a list. Now choose one ...

Video

Thinking about the design process

Watch as UNSW student and Blusat member William Frohlich talks about the design process. What are some of the important things to consider before you start to make a project? Why does William say it's important to be flexible with your designs? Design your own obstacle course for your family using objects from around your ...

Text

Material world – Stage 1

In this lesson sequence, students investigate how properties of materials determine their use. Students identify a range of natural materials used by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples for a specific cultural purpose. There is an optional ‘maker hour’ for students to produce, implement, test and evaluate a shelter ...

Text

Water flow

In this module, students discuss the importance of water and discover effective ways of transporting it to meet personal and community needs. The module includes a comprehensive teacher guide, curriculum links, materials lists, design process guides and printable student resource sheets. The resource also provides an editable ...

Text

Chair for bears

In this module, students investigate the common design features of chairs and how different types of chairs fit different sized people and have a range of purposes. They discuss the size and shape of different toys and analyse the requirements for a suitable chair for their toy. The module includes a comprehensive teacher ...

Text

Rice baby

This module connects students to the world around them as they discover that each person is unique whilst also sharing common traits and needs. Students cultivate a sense of empathy and experience different perspectives by being encouraged to care for their rice baby. The module includes a comprehensive teacher guide, curriculum ...

Text

Our magnificent thing

This module focuses on repurposing rubbish, giving students the opportunity to consider sustainability and the impact of their lifestyle choices on the environment. Based on the fiction picture book, The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires, students are encouraged to repurpose recyclable items to create their own most ...

Text

Growing food

This module focuses on the environmental conditions that affect the growth of plants. The module includes a comprehensive teacher guide, curriculum links, materials lists, design process guides and printable student resource sheets. The resource also provides an editable module template, is supported by online professional ...

Text

Waste warriors

This module focuses on developing knowledge, skills, and values about waste as students consider the impact of lifestyle choices on the environment and how they can contribute to more sustainable patterns of living. The module includes a comprehensive teacher guide, curriculum links, materials lists, design process guides ...

Text

Little Red Hen's robot friend

This module focuses on the impact of technology, particularly robots, on our everyday lives. Based on the folktale The Little Red Hen, students are encouraged to create their own automated solution to help the Little Red Hen carry her wheat. The module includes a comprehensive teacher guide, curriculum links, materials ...

Text

Every bird needs a home

In this set of learning activities, students investigate how habitat loss affects biodiversity. Students undertake field work and investigate the problem within the context of their school. Using a collaborative learning approach and problem-solving skills, students design a bird habitat to increase bird numbers. The module ...

Text

Transportation Innovation

In this activity, students participate in a design challenge to use natural materials to design and create a tool that can be used to transport an object between two places. The activity provides students with an opportunity to explore how natural materials can be changed and combined to solve problems (Year 2) and use ...

Text

Material world – ES1

In this lesson sequence, students investigate how the properties of materials determine their use in design solutions while introducing students to the material sciences and design thinking. Student investigate, plan and design a chair for their favourite teddy or doll to sit next to them while they are completing their ...