‘BUILD A SHELTER’

STEM EVENT 2021

Links to Australian Curriculum for Year 4

Science
Science Understanding:
 Natural and processed materials have a range of physical properties that can
influence their use(ACSSU074)
Students will explore a range of materials and identify their suitability for creating a strong
shelter. Students will discuss the properties of these materials and identify how they could
be used when constructing a shelter, such as plastic to make it waterproof and wood for
durability.

Science as a Human Endeavour:

 Science knowledge helps people to understand the effect of their
actions (ACSHE062)
Students will investigate how builders and other professions use science to select
appropriate materials and tools to construct certain things. The guest speakers present will
provide students with their knowledge and expertise about choosing the appropriate tools
and materials when constructing a shelter like building and what type of shelter animals
need in order to survive.

Design and Technologies

Design and Technologies Knowledge and Understanding:
 Recognise the role of people in design and technologies occupations and explore
factors, including sustainability that impact on the design of products, services and
environments to meet community needs (ACTDEK010 )
Students will explore, play and test materials for their appropriateness as they design and
construct their animal shelter to be durable and waterproof. Students can make
comparisons and decisions about sustainable materials as they trial and error various
supplies. Students will listen to guest speakers sharing their occupation experience and
how it relates to design and technology.
 Investigate the suitability of materials, systems, components, tools
and equipment for a range of purposes (ACTDEK013)
Students will conduct tests to identify properties of materials such as warmth, durability
and water resistance. Students will then identify which materials are more appropriate to be
used for an animal shelter.

Design and Technologies Processes 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)
Students will explore the properties of different materials to determine suitability in the
construction of an animal shelter. Students are able to manipulate materials to identify their
properties and compare it to other materials. Students are able to make informed decisions
when constructing their shelter due to understanding material properties.
 Generate, develop, and communicate design ideas and decisions using
appropriate technical terms and graphical representation techniques (ACTDEP015)
Students will engage in conversation with members of their group to discuss design ideas
and identify the properties of materials they would require to build an animal shelter using
suitable materials and tools. Students will collaboratively visualise and explore design
ideas and produce labelled drawings to show their design to supervisors before
commencing construction.
 Select and use materials, components, tools, equipment and techniques and use
safe work practices to make designed solutions (ACTDEP016)
At the beginning of the event, a reminder of how to use tools safely will be implemented
which will allow students to participate safely. Students will engage in safe, responsible
and cooperative practices when designing and constructing their shelter during the event as
they use scissors, hot glue guns and sharp objects such as wooden skewers.
 Evaluate design ideas, processes and solutions based on criteria for
success developed with guidance and including care for
the environment (ACTDEP017) 
Students will discuss the success criteria with their group members before designing their
animal shelter. During the event, students will continuously evaluate and revise the
functional and aesthetic qualities of their design to ensure it will meet the success criteria.

(ACARA, 2014)