Achievement Standards - Level 4

Technology
Students describe how the features of technologies can be used to create designed solutions for each of the prescribed technologies contexts e.g.
Investigate how forces and the properties of materials affect the behaviour of a designed solution
They explain needs or opportunities and evaluate ideas and designed solutions against identified criteria for success
They develop and expand design ideas and communicate these using models and drawings including annotations and symbols
Students plan and sequence major steps in design and production.
They identify appropriate technologies and techniques and demonstrate safe work practices when creating designed solutions.
Science

They link the physical properties of materials to their use.

Students describe how they use science investigations to identify patterns and relationships and to respond to questions
They use formal and informal scientific language to communicate their observations, methods and findings.

Maths
Students use scaled instruments to measure length, angle, area, mass, capacity and temperature of shapes and objects.
Unit Plan

Description
of task

Lesson 1

Lesson 2

Lesson 3 (double lesson)

Lesson 4

Teacher has heavy stack of books

on desk. Class has a discussion
about how they could move these
books to a higher shelf without
having to lift them. Is there a
simple machine they could use?

As a whole class, students

should create a mind map on the
whiteboard of any safety
concerns that may arise with this
task e.g. scissors, hot glue gun.
Teacher should ask students to
suggest ways that they can work
safely in the technology lab.

Students will continue to work

on their simple machines today
and should have them finished
by the end of class.

In this final lesson, each group

will have a chance to present
their completed simple
machine to the class.
Accompanied with their
PowerPoint, they should
discuss their design and
building process, a problem
they faced and how they
overcame it, any safety
concerns, and whether theyre
final product met the design
brief specifications.

Students watch YouTube clip

Pulleys-simple machines and
create mind maps in table groups
of different machines that involve
a pulley system. Students share
ideas with the class.

Students will have to use the

available scales to weigh
various objects and then place
them on their machine and see
Students will finalise their
if they can be lifted 50cm.
investigating of the available
Students should record their
materials and will begin to create findings, and take photos of
their product.
their pulley system in use.

Teacher discusses Design Brief

with students and guides them
with how theyre going to use a
range of materials to create the
pulley system. Teacher should
facilitate questioning on the use of
the different tools provided and
how they will help in the
construction of the object.
Students get in groups of 3 and
begin to investigate available
materials and choose suitable
ones to meet the design brief
specifications. They will also
create annotated sketches of their
design ideas.

In their groups of 3, students will

create a simple machine with a
pulley system that it is capable
of lifting a 200gm load, 50cm
high. They will need to create
some sort of basket or tray to
carry a range of objects that will
be lifted using string.

Students should create a short

PowerPoint displaying the
photos from their design and
building process.

Students should take pictures of

their design and building process
on their iPads.

During their presentations,

students will be marked by
two of their peers on a rubric,
which will contribute to their
overall mark (see Appendix 3).
Two students will then be
chosen to provide the group
one positive about their
presentation and machine,
and one possible
improvement.
After the presentations are
finished, students should
complete a self evaluation
sheet in their groups of 3 (see
Appendix 2).

Vic
Curriculum
Links

Investigate force (VCDSTC024),

Suggest ways to plan and conduct
investigations to find answers to
questions (VCSIS066), Critique
needs or opportunities for
designing and explore and test a
variety of materials
(VCDSCD028), Generate,
develop, and communicate design
ideas (VCDSCD029)

Investigate force (VCDSTC024),

Safely use appropriate materials,
tools, equipment and
technologies (VCSIS067), Select
and use materials, components,
tools and equipment using safe
work practices to produce
designed solutions
(VCDSCD030)

Investigate force
(VCDSTC024), (VCMMG165),
Safely use appropriate
materials, tools, equipment and
technologies (VCSIS067),
Select and use materials,
components, tools and
equipment using safe work
practices to produce designed
solutions (VCDSCD030)

Evaluate design ideas,

processes and solutions
based on criteria for success
(VCDSCD031)

Technology
Process

Investigating & Planning and

Managing

Generating (Designing),
Planning and Managing &
Producing

Producing & Planning and

Managing

Evaluating

Materials,
systems,
equipment

YouTube clip Pulleys-simple

machines
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=9T7tGosXM58), Interactive

Newspaper
Cardboard, Popsicle sticks,
Straws, String, Bits of material,
Hot glue gun, Scissors, Bottles

Newspaper
Cardboard, Popsicle sticks,
Straws, String, Bits of material,
Hot glue gun, Scissors, Bottles

PowerPoint, Interactive
whiteboard, Self evaluation
sheet (Appendix 2), Peer
assessment rubric (Appendix

Safety
aspects

whiteboard, Newspaper,
Cardboard, Popsicle sticks,
Straws, String, Bits of material,
Hot glue gun, Scissors, Bottles
caps, Empty cotton spools,
Bobbins, Sticky tape, A3 paper,
Textas

caps, Empty cotton spools,

Bobbins, Sticky tape, iPads,
Ruler, Scales

caps, Empty cotton spools,

Bobbins, Sticky tape, Scales,
iPads, PowerPoint, Ruler

3)

Students will need to consider the

safe use of the scissors and
especially the hot glue gun, as it
runs at an extremely high
temperature.

Students will need to consider

the safe use of the scissors and
especially the hot glue gun, as it
runs at an extremely high
temperature.

Students will need to consider

the safe use of the scissors
and especially the hot glue
gun, as it runs at an extremely
high temperature.

There are no safety

considerations in this final
lesson, except for students
being aware of any cords
protruding from the interactive
whiteboard.