Design and Technology: Grade 7

Design and Technology is a multidisciplinary subject focused on creativity, innovation, and problem-solving through the production of useful everyday products. It emphasizes understanding the role of designers and the impact of technology on society, while considering factors like function, material, appearance, safety, size, cost, and environmental impact.

This section covers 3D drawing techniques, specifically oblique and isometric projections. It outlines the crate method for drawing shaped blocks and emphasizes the importance of grids, proper tools, and rendering techniques to enhance visual presentation.

Safety is paramount in the Design and Technology lab. The text covers mandatory, prohibition, and warning signs, appropriate dress codes, and protective equipment (aprons, goggles, gloves). It includes specific safe handling practices for paper and card cutters and craft knives.

An overview of materials like wood, metal, plastic, and glass, with a focus on paper and card, including their properties, manufacturing (wood pulp), and various types (newsprint, cartridge, corrugated, duplex). Smart materials like phosphorescent pigments and photochromic materials are also introduced.

This unit teaches essential construction techniques for designers, including using rulers, protractors, and compasses. It covers measuring and constructing angles, bisecting lines and angles, and constructing various regular polygons like triangles, squares, and hexagons.

The design process is structured as a systematic problem-solving cycle: identification of the problem, research and analysis, specification, idea generation, development, planning, realization, and final evaluation. Each stage is intended to guide students in turning a design brief into a functional 3D product.