Design Technology in Year 5 and 6

Oct 25, 2021 | class story

A CLASS STORY by Mr. Horsfall & Mr. Letcher’s Year 5/6 Class

In Design Technology this year, students have been given challenges that have included them solving a problem and then making prototypes to test if their solutions work. These units of work have been planned around the students becoming familiar with an engineering design cycle.

The design cycle that students have followed include these steps:

  1. Identify what the problem/ challenge is
  2. Research and make design plans
  3. Make a prototype
  4. Test the prototype
  5. Get feedback and improve their prototypes
  6. Continue steps 4-5 until they are happy with their solution

The students have been involved in 2 major projects so far:

The Egg Drop Problem

students needed to construct something that could catch an egg, dropped from a 1 metre high ramp, without the egg breaking
The ‘catcher’ could only be made using paper with minimal adhesives allowed.

Rubber-band Powered Car

Students had to use the energy caused by tensioning rubber bands to power and make a car move as far as possible.

The car could be made using any materials and construction methods.

With both of these projects, students made fantastic designs and were able to come up with successful design solutions.

In term 4, we are continuing this process as students learn about chain reactions. They are making Rube Goldberg machines. These are machines that do a very simple task (like watering a plant) in a very complicated way. If you would like to see what this is all about take a look at the video below:

https://youtu.be/mlW1ehNUmgI

Latest Porties Post stories:
Kicking Goals with Resilience: AFLW Crows Inspire Porties

Kicking Goals with Resilience: AFLW Crows Inspire Porties

In Week 3 of this term, we had the extraordinary privilege of welcoming some AFLW players from the Crows team to our school. Their visit was not only inspiring but also deeply enriching for our students and staff. The players shared invaluable insights on resilience,...

Parent Update — End of Term 1, 2025

Parent Update — End of Term 1, 2025

The latest Parent Update from our Principal is now available to download and read. This Parent Update contains: Principal's Message Staffing news Term 2 key dates School Improvement Plan Way2Go Excursion payments and more. Parent Update — End of Term 1, 2025 A printed...

SAFM Rocks a Classroom at Porties

SAFM Rocks a Classroom at Porties

While listening to the radio, Jack C heard Bernie and Emma G announce a back-to-school competition on SAFM. He entered—and won! The excitement didn't stop there, as the SAFM team visited Port Noarlunga Primary School. Miss Clarke’s class had a booming Thursday in Term...

Speed Stacker Finn and Porties on The Project TV

Speed Stacker Finn and Porties on The Project TV

Finn’s Lightning-Fast Skills Take Him to the World Stage! ⚡🏆 A speed-stacking sensation has taken Port Noarlunga Primary by storm—and it’s none other than Year 2 student Finn, who’s stacking his way to the top! Finn has been selected to join the Australian Lightning...

SCHOOL CALENDAR



Archive