Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v5 - Grade 7
Design process: investigate, design and make a simple product – Week 8 focus
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Design process: investigate, design and make a simple product – Week 8 focus
Download the Lessonotes Mobile South Africa app for faster lesson access on Android and iPhone.
Subject: Technology
Class: Grade 7
Term: 3rd Term
Week: 8
Theme: General lesson support
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This week, we delve deeper into the design process by actually creating a simple product. This is the exciting part where theory becomes reality! The design process is a systematic way of solving problems and creating new things. It's not just for engineers; it's a valuable skill for everyone. In South Africa, understanding and applying the design process can help us develop innovative solutions to everyday challenges, from designing more efficient water collection systems in rural areas to creating educational toys from recycled materials. This process allows us to be creative, resourceful, and contribute positively to our communities.
The design process is an iterative process, meaning that you might go back and forth between steps as you learn more and refine your design. For this week's focus, we will work primarily on the 'Make' phase, but continuous reference to the 'Investigate' and 'Design' phases is essential. The 'Make' phase directly depends on the quality of the previous phases.
A. The Design Process - Recap Investigate: This stage involves understanding the problem, conducting research, and gathering information. We define the need or problem, identify existing solutions (if any), and research materials and techniques. Last week we focused on this. Think back to your chosen product.
Design: Here, we brainstorm ideas, develop sketches, create detailed plans, and select the best solution. This is where we decide how we will solve the problem. Remember to consider constraints like cost, time, and available resources.
Make: This is where we bring our design to life! We gather materials, use tools and techniques to construct our product, and test its functionality.
Evaluate: We assess our product against the original design criteria. Did it solve the problem? What worked well? What could be improved? This evaluation informs future design iterations. B. Materials Selection and Properties Choosing the right materials is crucial for the success of any design project. Different materials have different properties that make them suitable for different applications. Here are some examples, relevant to available resources in South Africa: Wood: Strong, versatile, relatively easy to work with. Consider reclaimed wood for sustainability. Think about using wooden pallets (with permission and after safe cleaning) or scrap wood from construction sites.
Example:* Building a simple bird feeder.
Plastic: Lightweight, durable, waterproof. Recycled plastic bottles can be used creatively.
Example:* Creating a pencil holder from a cut and decorated plastic bottle.
Cardboard: Inexpensive, easily recyclable, and can be surprisingly strong when folded or layered.
Example:* Making a small storage box.
Metal: Strong, durable, but can be more difficult to work with. Consider using discarded tin cans (cleaned and with edges smoothed) for small projects.
Example:* Constructing a simple wind chime.
Fabric: Flexible, versatile, and can be used for a wide range of projects. Consider using old clothes or fabric scraps.
Example:* Sewing a small bag or pouch.
Properties to consider: Strength: How well a material can withstand force.
Durability: How long a material will last.
Flexibility: How easily a material can be bent or shaped.
Weight: How heavy a material is.
Cost: How much a material costs.
Availability: How easy it is to find and obtain the material.
Sustainability: The environmental impact of the material (e.g., is it recyclable, is it made from renewable resources?). C. Tools and Techniques Safety is paramount when using tools. Always follow instructions carefully and wear appropriate safety gear.
Cutting: Scissors, craft knives (under supervision), saws (for wood).
Joining: Glue, tape, screws, nails, sewing.
Shaping: Bending, folding, sanding, carving.
Measuring: Rulers, tape measures.
Marking: Pencils, pens.
D. Example Project: Making a Simple Bird Feeder Let's say our investigated problem is that there are few places for birds to easily feed in our local garden.
Investigate (Recap): We investigated types of bird feeders, suitable seeds, and local bird species.
Design (Recap): We designed a hanging bird feeder made from recycled plastic bottles. The design includes holes for the birds to access the seeds and a perch for them to stand on. We have a detailed sketch with measurements.
Make (This Week's Focus): Gather Materials: Clean, empty plastic bottle, string or wire, scissors or craft knife (with supervision), small wooden dowel or stick for the perch, bird seed.
Prepare the Bottle: Carefully cut holes in the bottle for the birds to access the seed. Ensure the edges are smooth to avoid injuring the birds.
Insert the Perch: Make small holes below the feeding holes and insert the wooden dowel or stick. This provides a place for the birds to stand.
Attach Hanging Mechanism: Make holes near the top of the bottle and thread string or wire through them to create a hanger.
Fill with Seed: Pour bird seed into the bottle.
Test: Hang the bird feeder in a suitable location and observe if birds use it.
Evaluate: After a week of observation, we evaluate the success of the bird feeder. Does it attract birds? Is it easy to refill? Is it durable enough to withstand the weather? If necessary, we make modifications to the design. Guided Practice (With Solutions)
Question 1: You are designing a container to hold stationery. What are three important properties to consider when choosing a material for this container, and why?
Solution: Durability: The container needs to be durable enough to withstand daily use and not easily break or tear.