Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v5 - Grade 9

Lesson Video

This page supports the lesson note with a companion video and a short classroom-ready summary.

For class groups and homework, share this lesson page so learners also get the summary, objectives, and full lesson context.

Performance objectives

• Construct a functional prototype from your design.
• Apply appropriate and safe joining techniques.
• Conduct initial tests on your prototype.
• Document your construction and testing process.
• Incorporate basic electrical circuitry where needed.

Lesson summary

This week focuses on continuing the integrated technology project that you started last week. An integrated technology project combines multiple technological skills and concepts to solve a real-world problem. It's not just about building something; it's about understanding how different parts work together to achieve a desired outcome. The projects are highly relevant to South African learners because they encourage problem-solving skills applicable to various challenges faced in our communities, from water conservation to efficient farming techniques. This week, we’ll concentrate on the construction/implementation and initial testing phases of your project.

Lesson notes

Project Construction & Implementation This phase involves turning your design on paper into a tangible object. This is a crucial stage where theoretical knowledge meets practical application.

Materials Selection Recap: Remember the properties of different materials and why you chose them in Week

1. Are they strong enough? Are they weather-resistant (if needed)? Are they cost-effective?

Joining Techniques: Different materials require different joining techniques.

Wood: Screwing, gluing, nailing. Ensure you use the correct type of screw for the wood to prevent splitting. Wood glue provides a strong and long-lasting bond.

Metal: Soldering (for electrical connections), welding (requires specialized equipment and training), riveting, using nuts and bolts. Soldering is a low-temperature joining process using a filler metal (solder) to create a strong electrical and mechanical connection.

Plastics: Gluing (specific types of plastic glue are required, such as for PVC pipes), heat welding (for certain plastics). Ensure the glue is compatible with the plastic.

Considerations: Safety is paramount. Wear appropriate safety gear like safety glasses, gloves, and a dust mask. Work in a well-ventilated area, especially when soldering or using adhesives.

Electrical Circuitry (If applicable): If your project involves electricity, this is where you carefully assemble the circuits.

Components: Resistors, LEDs, sensors, microcontrollers (like Arduino), breadboards, wires. Understand the function of each component. Resistors limit current flow, LEDs emit light, sensors detect environmental changes, and microcontrollers are small computers that can control other components.

Circuit Diagrams: Always refer to your circuit diagram to ensure correct connections. A circuit diagram is a visual representation of the electrical connections.

Power Supply: Use the correct voltage power supply for your components. Exceeding the voltage can damage the components.

Wiring: Use appropriate gauge wires and ensure connections are secure. Loose connections can cause shorts and malfunctions.

Safety: Never work with live circuits without proper supervision and knowledge. Always disconnect the power source before making any changes.

Using Microcontrollers (If applicable): Introduction to basic coding for microcontrollers like Arduino.

Programming Environment: Learn the basics of using the Arduino IDE (Integrated Development Environment). This is where you write and upload code to the microcontroller.

Basic Commands: Understand basic commands like `pinMode()`, `digitalWrite()`, `digitalRead()`, `delay()`. These commands control the input and output pins of the microcontroller, allowing you to interact with the physical world.

Construction Process: Break down the construction into smaller, manageable steps. Follow your design plan closely but be prepared to adapt if needed. Initial Testing & Troubleshooting Functionality Tests: Does the prototype perform its intended function? Test each aspect of the design.

Component Testing (Electronics): If you have electrical components, test each component individually to ensure it is working correctly before integrating it into the circuit. Use a multimeter to check voltage, current, and resistance.

Troubleshooting: Identify and fix any problems you encounter. This often involves careful observation, logical reasoning, and testing different hypotheses.

Example 1: Building a Simple Water Level Sensor Project Goal: To create a sensor that alerts when a water tank is nearly full.

Materials: Arduino microcontroller, ultrasonic sensor, jumper wires, breadboard, buzzer.

Construction Steps: Connect the ultrasonic sensor to the Arduino using jumper wires. Connect the buzzer to the Arduino using jumper wires and a resistor.

Write Arduino code to: Read the distance from the ultrasonic sensor. If the distance is below a certain threshold (indicating the water level is high), activate the buzzer. Upload the code to the Arduino.

Testing: Fill a bucket with water and test the sensor at different water levels. Adjust the distance threshold in the code to fine-tune the sensor's sensitivity.

Example 2: Constructing a simple solar-powered phone charger.

Project Goal: To create a portable solar phone charger.

Materials: Small solar panel, voltage regulator, USB charging port, enclosure, wires.

Construction Steps: Solder the voltage regulator to the solar panel ensuring correct polarity. Solder the USB charging port to the voltage regulator. Enclose the connections in a suitable container such as a small plastic box.

Testing: Connect a multimeter to the USB charging port to ensure the correct voltage is output. Test with your phone to ensure charging is possible. Guided Practice (With Solutions)

Question 1: You are building a wooden birdhouse. What type of joining technique would be most appropriate for connecting the sides of the birdhouse, and why?

Solution: Screwing and gluing.