Design Brief Teacher Notes Quick Overview

Year Level and Title of Project

 Year 3
 Zoo Designer!

SCSA Links

 Design and Technology

o Knowledge and Understanding
 Technologies and Society- Ways products, services and
environments are designed to meet community needs
(ACTDEK010)

 Materials and technologies specialisations- Suitability and

safe practice when using materials, tools and equipment for a
range of purposes (ACTDEK013)
o Process and production skills
 Creating solutions by:
 Investigating and defining- Create a sequence of steps
to solve a given task (WATPPS16)
 Designing- Develop and communicate ideas using
labelled drawings and appropriate technical terms
(WATPPS17)
 Producing and implementing- Select, and safely use,
appropriate components with given equipment to make a
solution (WATPPS18)
 Evaluating- Use criteria to evaluate design processes
and solutions developed (WATPPS19)
 Collaborating and managing- Work independently, or
collaboratively when required, to plan, safely create and
communicate sequenced steps (WATPPS20)
 Science
o Living things can be grouped on the basis of observable features and
can be distinguished from non-living things (ACSSU044)

Introduction

 A new animal has been discovered and the class needs to design an
enclosure that would be suitable to keep it in.

Brief

 This design brief will run concurrently with the biological science topic so that
students are learning and aware of the characteristics of a living thing and
therefore what sort of thigs they will need to consider when designing their
 enclosure. For example, all living things eat, therefore, in my design I need to
consider how the animal would get food.
 The enclosure needs to be big enough for the animal to move about freely but
strong enough to keep them enclosed so that they can’t escape or reach the
humans that visit the zoo.
 Students will draw a design and then create a diorama model of what it would
look like.

Generating Designs

 After taking into consideration the needs that all living things have, specifically
their newly discovered animal and the needs of a zoo enclosure (size, safety,
visibility for humans) students will draw 2 designs of an enclosure and
evaluate them with their peers.
 When students have chosen a design, they will need to create a list of
materials they will need and write a brief paragraph explaining why their
design would be appropriate.
 The material list will be based on the actual materials used in a zoo and the
diorama will use representations of those materials. For example, the material
used in a zoo may be wood but in the diorama a pop stick would be used.

Project Specification

 Constraints
o Any materials can be used in the design but keep in mind that the zoo
will want to spend as little as possible.
o The diorama can be made out of anything that students bring in or that
is already in the classroom.
o Must be safe and spacious enough for the newly discovered animal
and account for all of it’s needs- will it be able to eat, drink, breathe etc.
o Must have a place where humans will be able to view the animal but
not intrude on the animal’s peace.
o Must be safe for humans- for example, the walls of the enclosure need
to stop the animal from reaching the humans in anyway.
Project Management

1. Investigate the characteristics of all living things and consider what needs
your newly discovered animal would have.
2. Create 2 designs that could be used in a zoo to hold your animal.
3. Present designs to peers and offer feedback to each other.
4. Choose the best design, make any improvements to it and then create a list of
materials that the builders would need,
5. Collect the materials to create a diorama or other physical model of your
enclosure.
6. Build the diorama using the design you drew.
7. Evaluate the diorama (make sure that it matches your drawing design as
closely as possible and that it still meets all of the Project requirements.
8. Present your dioramas to your classmates and then display them in the
classroom with your newly discovered animal.

Evaluation

 The enclosure must be fully enclosed to ensure that the animal won’t escape.
 The enclosure needs to take into consideration the characteristics of all living
things and the needs that they have. Remember- the animal will be stuck in
just this enclosure for at least one year so it needs to be able to live happily.
 The diorama matches the drawn design as closely as possible.
 There is an area where humans will be able to see the animal (For example, a
clear wall or see through fence.

Presentation

 Students will present their dioramas to the class before displaying them
around the classroom, next to their drawn designs and made up ‘newly
discovered animal’ (animal will be created in art as part of a Critter creation
lesson focussing on observable features) ready for Parents’ night.

Time

 Students will have approximately 5 weeks to create their dioramas. Additional

time can be given where necessary.
 Lesson Brief overview of what will happen.
 Introduce design brief
 Think about the characteristics and needs of living
Lesson 1 things.
 Consider what type of animal has been discovered
(use the critter created in art) and the sort of
environment it would naturally be found in- how
could this be replicated in your design.
 Investigate different zoo designs and think about
what they all have in common- how will they be
used in your design
 Create two possible designs and share them with
a friend.
Lesson 2  Give and use feedback from peers to improve your
favourite design
 Create a list of materials that the zoo builder would
need to make the enclosure.
 Begin creating the diorama or other sort of model
using the items in the classroom or that students
Lesson 3 and 4 have brought in from home.
 Evaluate the diorama and make sure that it
matches the design as closely as possible (it will
be a scaled down version) and that it meets all of
the design requirements.
 Present the dioramas or other model to peers and
explain how the design meets the need of the
Lesson 5 animal.
 Display the dioramas around the classroom for
parent night. (A video of students presenting their
model can be taken and attached to the models as
a QR code for parents to view when they come to
school).