Years 5-7
Each 5-7 class completes two periods of Woodwork each week for one semester. This is alternated with Home Economics in the other semester.
Students work towards the achievement of Level 6 standards in Design, Creativity and Technology.
  • They contribute to the development of design briefs that include some limitations and specifications by posing questions about and identifying situations, problems, needs and opportunities for the creation of useful products and simple systems.
  • They explore ideas and concepts about design, materials/ and consider how these can be combined in innovative ways to create solutions; for example, for a model solar boat or bird house Individually and in small teams, students develop possible solutions in response to design briefs, using simple mind maps, sketches, plans and annotated drawings, labelled diagrams models and flow charts.
  • They increasingly use information and communications technology tools and techniques to research, develop and communicate ideas.
  • They are encouraged to consciously select preferred options and explain why they have chosen them, referring to materials/, function and aesthetics.
  • Students learn to develop step-by-step plans for production and use a variety of production techniques, tools, materials/ingredients (for example, a template for marking a shape to be cut out of wood, a clamp for holding materials/ingredients to a table, a try square for squaring a piece of wood, they begin to record their progress using words and images.
  • Students learn to analyse how products and systems function and what they look like, and discuss the meaning of quality in the context of design. They learn to identify evaluation criteria from the design brief and use them to justify design choices. They also use them to think about how well their completed product suits the design situation. They use simple tests to determine the suitability or performance of products and/or technological systems.
These outcomes are developed through the production of;
  • Model car
  • Spaghetti measuring stick
  • Fly swat, back scratcher
  • Small bathroom shelf
  • Japanese puzzle
  • Bevel Set
  • Marking gauge
  • Tool box
  • Money box
  •  Book ends with designed motif
  • Balloon powered small car
  • Puppets
  • Bird feeder

Years 8-10
Students in Year 8-10 may elect to study Woodwork in each semester. 8-10 units consist of five periods per week for the semester.Work is differentiated in these units to cater for students working towards level 8 or level 10 and beyond.
At Level 8, students use various strategies and sources of information to investigate and research a range of factors relevant to more sophisticated design briefs to which they have contributed. During the design process they clarify their understanding of design brief requirements and their design ideas by gathering, responding to and providing feedback to others. They develop evaluation criteria from the design brief to inform their judgments during the design process. They use a variety of drawing and modelling techniques to visualize design ideas and concepts. Students demonstrate understanding of design elements and principles and use appropriate technical language.

At Level 10, students identify considerations and constraints within a design brief. They undertake research relevant to the design brief. They locate and use relevant information to help their design thinking and identify the needs of a variety of client/user groups. When designing, they generate a range of alternative possibilities, use appropriate technical language, and justify their preferred option, explaining how it provides a solution to the problem, need or opportunity. They make critical decisions on materials/ components and techniques based on their understanding of the properties and characteristics of materials/ They effectively use information and communications technology equipment, techniques and procedures to support the development of their design and planning. Students take account of function and performance, energy requirements, aesthetics, costs, and ethical and legal considerations that address the requirements of design briefs. They identify a range of criteria for evaluating their products and/or technological systems. Students plan a realistic and logical sequence of the production stages, incorporating time and cost.