Technology Units
Junior and Senior

Topic: Gardens Contexts: School and Environmental Areas: Materials, Structures & Mechanisms
Year 1-6 Level One and Two
Situation: every class in the school is responsible for their own garden. To keep our plants alive we need to look after them
Design Brief: design a system to care for our plants to prevent them from dying
Specifications: - environmental materials can be used
- must not damage the plants or disturb the earth
- must be able to be stored easily
- must be original
- could be a modification of an existing system
Technological Knowledge and Understanding
Objective: Level 1.2a ask questions, share ideas about modifications in familiar technologies 
Level 2.2a identify and discuss ideas about modifications and adaptations in familiar technologies
Learning Experiences:

1. examine and describe existing watering system
2. invite an expert to talk about the care of plants
3. visit local Botannical Garden or Garden Centre
4. experiment with various watering systems
5. explore modification possibilities
6. examine different watering systems in own environment and commercial. Make comparisons, identify what makes a good system and what is not so good
Technological Capability
Objective: Level 1:6a share ideas about possible solutions and strategies, and choose a practicable option
Level 2:6a discuss possible solutions and strategies, and select and develop a suitable option
Learning Experiences:

1. groups select and design their solution, making a list of materials required
2. produce selected solution
3. groups demonstrate system, explain reasons for decisions, and allow others to test the solution which might need to be modified
Technology and Society
Objective: Level 1:8 share ideas about the ways in which familiar technologies affect their lives
Objective: Level 2:8 explore and compare the roles of some example of technology in daily life in their own and in other time and place
Learning Experiences:

1. interview family members as to how they look after their plants
2. survey people in the community as to why they have gardens or not and present information to class
Assessment
Objective L:2.2a identify and discuss ideas about modifications and adaptations in familiar technologies Assessment Task:
examine different watering systems in own environment and commercial. Make comparisons, identify what makes a good system and what is not so good		 Achieving at Level 3
compare significant features of some technologies		 Achieving at Level 2
identify and discuss ideas about modifications and adaptations in familiar technologies

 

 Achieving at Level 1
ask questions, share ideas about modifications in familiar technologies 

Written by Wiljan Dekkers, Noleen Fox-Matamua and Jacqui Sharp

Technology Units
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