Curriculum
Design and Technologies
Knowledge and Understanding
Investigate the suitability of materials, systems, components, tools and equipment for a range of purposes (ACTDEK013)
Process and Production Skills
Critique needs or opportunities for designing and explore and test a variety of materials, components, tools and equipment and the techniques needed to produce designed solutions.(ACTDEP014)
Visual Arts
Use materials, techniques and processes to explore visual conventions when making artworks. (ACAVAM111)
Cross Curriculum Priorities
Sustainability
OI.9 Sustainable futures result from actions designed to preserve and/or restore the quality and uniqueness of environments.
The cross curriculum priority of Sustainability is integrated in this project through the use of upcycled materials. Students will investigate the environmental, social and economic impacts of upcycling to understand how upcycling contributes to preserving environments and creating sustainable futures.
General Capabilities
Critical and creative thinking
Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
Generating ideas, possibilities and actions
Reflecting on thinking and processes
Analysing, synthesising and evaluating reasoning and procedures
This project will provide opportunties for students to develop the general capability of critical and creative thinking. Students will develop their creative thinking skills as they imagine the possibilities for using a variety of materials and techniques (mechanisms) to create their kinetic sculptures. They will use critical thinking skills to evaluate the suitability of materials and techniques used in making their kinetic sculptures.
Contents
- Background information for teachers
- Design Brief for students
- A collection of online techniques that could be used by students to meet the design challenge
- Notes about testing materials and techniques
- Assessment Rubric
- Peer Evaluation Sheet
- Student workbook
Project Overview
Suggested Teaching Sequence
This teaching sequence is structured using the design process and indicates opportunties for integrating the cross curriculum priority of Sustainability and the general capability of Critical and Creative thinking.
Lesson 1: What is upcycling and why is it important? Introduce the project and the design brief, discuss potential sources of upcycled materials for the project and the different types of materials. [Cross curriculum priority: Sustainabilitly]
Lesson 2: What is Kinetic Art? - Introduce theme and look at examples and effects of kinetic art to provide inspiration for students.
Lesson 3: Review of the design process and research mechanisms for creating movement
Lesson 4: Research mechanisms for creating movement - how will I know which mechanism is suitable for my sculpture?
Lesson 5: Investigating materials - testing which materials will be suitable to use for the mechanisms and potential for artisit effect in relation to the theme [Critical thinking skills - identifying criteria for suitability and evaluating materials and techniques to determine suitability at a year 3-4 level of understanding]
Lesson 6: Designing [Creative thinking skills - generate ideas and possibilities, critical thinking skills - evaluate the suitability of the design to meet the design brief against criteria provided]
Lesson 7: Constructing and testing the moving parts [Critical thinking - evaluation of the movement mechanisms used and reflection on the construction process]
Lesson 8: Evaluate and improve/refine the design including peer review, add finishing touches. [critical thinking skills - evaluation of artistic effects of the finished sculpture, identifying ways to improve]
Lesson 9: final reflection and evaluation [critical thinking skills - evaluation and reflection on design process, selection of techniques (mechanisms) and materials, artisitic effects of the kinetic sculpture, contributions of the peer review process]