Each lesson includes a brief descriptor of the purpose and scope of the lesson. Most lessons are supported with many digital resources indicated by:
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Subcriptions for both overseas teachers and overseas schools are also available. Please email us at: starters@reap.org.nz and we will send you full details.
Technology Units
BIRD TABLE.pdf : [239 KB]
There is no better way for young students to develop a greater understanding of and love of bird life than to design bird feeders/tables for the school grounds. Environmental education in a technology, social sciences and English setting. Website supporting this unit.Videos supporting this unit.
BOTTLES AND LIDS.pdf : [97 KB]
Students gain technological knowledge in the context of exploring the important packaging and design concept of lids and bottles, their purposes, their different designs and why they play such an important part in our everyday lives – including improving safety through technology.
CAN OPENERS.pdf : [79 KB]
A deceptively simple but very essential technology to get students thinking in a technological way.
CLOTHING CAN PROTECT US.pdf : [97 KB]
Students consider the place of protective clothing and equipment, both in sporting/recreational activities and in carrying out certain activities and jobs. After investigations, students are challenged to design and test their own designs of protective equipment/clothing related to an activity of their choice.
COMMUNICATING.pdf : Subscription Only Download [94 KB]
What is communication? Why do we communicate with each other? Students then go on to explore how we communicate with each other today; the ways we communicated in the past and how we might communicate with each other in the future.
COOPERATIVE DESIGN CHALLENGES.pdf : Subscription Only Download [89 KB]
CO-OPERATIVE CHALLENGES Four design challenges using the BP Challenge format. Students share ideas about solutions to problems and devise strategies to solve problems. Based on technological capability, the challenges have close links to visual arts, music, and health and physed. The unit includes assessment ideas and an 8-step method to follow to design your own challenges.
DESIGN A CLASSROOM.pdf : Subscription Only Download [81 KB]
In this unit, students are challenged to design their own classroom in any way they wish. Students must consider the activities that take place in the classroom, what furniture they will need, how they will make it attractive and pleasant to work in.
DESIGN A PLAYGROUND.pdf : Subscription Only Download [102 KB]
Challenging students to look at the content and design of successful playgrounds and come up with their own design.
DISPOSING OF WASTE.pdf : Subscription Only Download [95 KB]
Students explore the world of classroom, home and district waste disposal. Can we measure waste? What systems are in place? Are they working? Can we make them work better? Can we change behaviour? What is recycling and why is it a good thing?
DRYING OUR CLOTHES.pdf : Subscription Only Download [96 KB]
Investigations into the simple and complex technologies we use to dry our clothes – what we use; why we use them and safety precautions we must take.
ELECTRIC LIGHTS.pdf : Subscription Only Download [103 KB]
Students consider what life was like before the invention of the electric light. What difference has it made? When do we use electric lights in our daily lives? What are some of the other uses we have for electric lighting?
ELECTRONIC DEVICES.pdf : Subscription Only Download [97 KB]
Student explorations and investigations into everyday electronic devices at home and at school. Students find out how they work, how they help us, when were they invented and try to imagine what life would be like if we did not have these devices.
EXPLORING INVENTIONS.pdf : Subscription Only Download [108 KB]
What is an invention? What is an inventor? What is our favourite invention and what does it do? What inventions were not around when our parents and grandparents were young? Through investigations and discussion, students begin to gain an understanding of the effects of technology on the lives of people and the benefits it can bring.
FENCES AND WALLS.pdf : Subscription Only Download [92 KB]
Through observation and experience, students find out why we have fences and enclosures and why they are important – especially for farmers and at places we visit such as zoos. Two fence deign challenges are included.
FLYING KITES.pdf : Subscription Only Download [117 KB]
How does a kite fly? What keeps it up in the air? What role does each part of the kite play. Investigations and practical experiences with kites. HOW TO MAKE A KITE AT HOME – VIDEO 2 BUILDING AND FLYING KITES – VIDEOS
FROZEN FOODS.pdf : Subscription Only Download [77 KB]
Investigations into the reasons we keep our food cool and/or frozen. Students are then challenged and experiment with the best way/s of keeping their food cool.
GARDEN TOOLS.pdf : Subscription Only Download [90 KB]
Investigations into the wide variety of garden tools, how they work, how they are designed, safety features and how and why we must think about personal safety when using tools.
LETTERBOXES.pdf : Subscription Only Download [82 KB]
In this unit students are asked to consider and identify the functional design features of a letterbox – the features that make it fit for the purpose it has, including being postie friendly. To conclude the unit we introduce the idea that a letterbox can reflect the personality and interests of the owner, and at the same time have design features to make it a good letterbox.
MAGNIFICATION.pdf : Subscription Only Download [96 KB]
In this unit, students will explore the concept of magnification in the context of being able to view 'tiny things' and viewing objects in the distance. They will discover the technology we use to magnify things and the unit concludes with a visit to the 'Hubble' telescope in space. WHAT DOES HUBBLE DO? STAR WALK KIDS Hubble in action, how it works, and exploring astronomy.
MAKING PAPER.pdf : Subscription Only Download [99 KB]
Students are challenged to think about the many uses we have for paper in our daily lives. Through making their own paper from recycled classroom paper, they will discover and explore the process of melding fibres together and how it relates to modern paper-making in factories.
NEEDS OF PETS.pdf : Subscription Only Download [89 KB]
In this unit, students will learn about the needs of pets and use this knowledge to put together a simple design brief to build a pet house or cage. Students then are encouraged to build the house and test it and modify it so it best suits the particular needs of the pet they have chosen. An additional competitive challenge is included – building a bird feeder for the school grounds.
PACKAGING.pdf : Subscription Only Download [92 KB]
Students explore the concept of and the reasons for packaging. The unit concludes with an 'unusual' packaging challenge!
PAPER INSTRUCTIONS.pdf : Subscription Only Download [179 KB]
Step-by-step instructions for making paper with your class.
USEFUL RAMPS.pdf : Subscription Only Download [120 KB]
In this unit students consider the simple but very useful technology of the ramp. Why do we use them? How do they make life easier for people? The unit concludes with a ramp challenge for students.
WORLD OF MACHINES.pdf : Subscription Only Download [98 KB]
Students explore the world of machines in a factual and imaginative way. The unit concludes with performing a machine sound picture. making music from machines, painting machine pictures and writing machine stories.