Design and technologies / Year 7 and 8 / Design and Technologies Processes and Production Skills

Curriculum content descriptions

Critique needs or opportunities for designing and investigate, analyse and select from a range of materials, components, tools, equipment and processes to develop design ideas (ACTDEP035)

Elaborations
  • considering community needs when identifying opportunities for designing, for example gardens for a community centre, cost effective food service for a sport club
  • experimenting with traditional and contemporary technologies when developing designs, and discovering the advantages and disadvantages of each approach
  • investigating emerging technologies and their potential impact on design decisions, for example flame retardant fabrics or smart materials such as self-healing materials, digital technologies and agriculture
  • examining, testing and evaluating a variety of suitable materials, components, tools and equipment for each design project, for example the differences between natural hardwood and plantation softwood timbers, which determine their suitability for particular uses related to durability, for example interior or exterior use
  • evaluating the viability of using different techniques and materials in remote, isolated areas, or less developed countries
  • selecting appropriate materials to acknowledge sustainability requirements by using life cycle thinking
General capabilities
  • Literacy Literacy
  • Critical and creative thinking Critical and creative thinking
ScOT terms

Critical thinking,  Materials,  Design,  Tools,  Deductive reasoning

Downloadable

Drone search lesson

This lesson plan introduces students to the practice and applications of using drones to take aerial photographs. Students learn safety procedures regarding the use of drones then capture images of simulated disaster areas. Students observe the use of drones in science and technology-based endeavours and suggest new applications ...

Interactive

Kitchen gardens – sustainability action process (Years 7–10)

This resource guides students through an extended school-based or local investigation focussed on kitchen gardens using the five-step sustainability action process. The resource supports the investigation of a real-world issue or problem. Students develop and implement a chosen sustainability action and then evaluate and ...

Interactive

Waste and materials – sustainability action process (Years 7–10)

This resource guides students through an extended school-based or local investigation focussed on waste and materials using the five-step sustainability action process. The resource supports the investigation of a real-world issue or problem. Students develop and implement a chosen sustainability action and then evaluate ...

Interactive

Refugees welcome here

This resource embeds the use of online collaboration tools and 21st century learning skills in a student-centered hands-on project designed to welcome refugees into their community. The syllabus outcomes are aligned to NSW Stage 4 English, Geography or Visual Arts but this could be used with older or younger students by ...

Interactive

Thermal comfort – sustainability action process (Years 7–10)

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.

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 ...

Video

How do robots work?

Ever wondered how robots work? Watch as students and Robogals members Claire and Stefan introduce you to one of their robots. What does Claire say about robot languages? And what does Stefan say about how the robot knows what's in front of it?

Video

Ever seen robots play sumo?

Watch this clip to see sumo robots in action! UNSW student and Robogals member Jonathan Loong explains how the game works. How do the robots know when to turn around and move back into the ring?

Online

Sphero slalom lesson

In this lesson students explore slalom sports and how competitors maximise speed when completing a course. Students research different slalom sports and then share their findings with the class. Students investigate the impact of distance and friction on time to complete a course through digital and unplugged activities. ...

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Water turbine | Questacon

In this activity, students make and test a simple water-driven turbine. The activity includes a list of what is required, suggestions of what to do and notice, questions to ask, an explanation for the underlying science of what students observe and suggestions for other related activities.

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PRIMED Technologies - Year 7

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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From paddock to plate

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

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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Stone Tools

In this series of activities, students investigate stone tools and how the properties of a stone influence its use. Students justify what type of stone would be best for making different tools and analyse how the properties of a stone determine its use, then conduct an investigation to assess the grinding potential of different ...

Downloadable

Construct a lifting machine - teacher resource kit

This activity kit challenges students to design and create a machine to lift a load to a height of at least 50cm. Activities are guided by the design thinking process, and scaffold students to undertake research on the applications of various simple machines, and the combinations of simple machines they might use to help ...

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Engineers think outside the square

Students explore the brainstorm and iterate phases of the engineering design process, with a particular emphasis on the importance of trying different ideas to ‘build a better mouse trap’.

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Sandcastle ratios

In this lesson students think like geotechnical engineers, exploring the properties of sand and the ways in which those properties can be used in building and construction.

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Balancing Mobiles

In this teaching activity, students will apply mathematical, science, and engineering concepts to experiment with balancing levers. They classify types of levers to design and build a simplified mobile and explore suspended and standing mobiles by sculptor Alexander Calder.

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Industrial design challenge – separating materials lesson

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 ...