Technology Units
Middle

This unit could be a follow on from an Indigenous study of habitats

Topic: Shelters Contexts: Environmental, Personal, Community, Home Areas: Materials, structures and mechanisms
Year 4 Level 2
Resources: internet sites, National Library, school library, journals, parents who may be builders or architects, recycled material
Situation: Some days it is not wet enough to go inside or it is really hot, our playground does not have enough shelter from this changeable weather
Design Brief: investigate and design a suitable means of shelter
Specifications: - must be weather proof
- must be portable
- must be light-weight
- can be made from recyclable materials
- must be able to hold 2 people
Technological Knowledge and Understanding
Objective: Level 2:2a identify and discuss ideas about modifications and adaptations in familiar technologies
Learning Experiences:

1. read a selection of books identifying different kinds of shelters built by indigenous people
2. examine reasons for types of shelters (i.e. environment, conditions etc)
3. collate information and compare to own environment, conditions etc.
4. examine different styles of tents and how they are put together. Identify what practical uses they would have
5. visit from a builder/architect, prepare questions regarding structures
6. identify possible materials that could be used and their suitability
Technological Capability
Objective: Level 2:6b identify and gather necessary resources, and model or make their preferred solutions
Learning Experiences:

1. draw a series of possible designs with careful annotation and descriptions of materials to be used
2. develop a labelled plan with written sequential instructions
3. make mock-up of intended design, test and evaluate
4.  go back to plan and make any changes or modifications
5. collect resources and make intended design
6. make preferred solution, test and evaluate
7. present to class
Technology and Society
Objective: Level 2:8 explore and compare the roles of some example of technology in daily life in their own and another time or place

1. compare shelters of indigenous people to our own community shelters i.e. bus shelters
2. survey others to experiences of camping out
3. survey a variety of people asking questions about the types of shelters they would like and why
4. imagine what sort of shelters could be necessary in 100 years time
Assessment
Objective Level 2:2a identify and discuss ideas about modifications and adaptations in familiar technologies Assessment Task:
examine different styles of tents and how they are put together. Identify what practical uses they would have. Identify the different purposes and outline what technologies have been used		 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 and share ideas about modifications in familiar technologies
Objective Level 2:6b identify and gather necessary resources, and model or make their preferred solutions Assessment Task:
develop a labelled plan with written sequential instructions. Make mock-up of intended design, test and evaluate. Go back to plan and make any changes or modifications. Collect resources and make intended design, test and evaluate		 Achieving at Level 3
prepare a plan of action, identify and collect the required resources, and produce the selected solution to meet agreed or specified criteria		 Achieving at Level 2
identify and gather necessary resources, and model or make their preferred solutions

 

 Achieving at Level 1
identify and gather necessary resources, and model or make their preferred solutions

 

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