VCDSTS004: Explore the use of familiar designed solutions to meet their needs.
VCDSTC005: Explore the characteristics and properties of familiar designed solutions in at least one technologies context.
VCDSCD006: Experience and explore how designed solutions are created and produced safely to meet personal needs.
Aboriginal Cultural Standards Framework: Cultural Responsiveness Standard - Staff embed Aboriginal cultural knowledge, such as traditional metal finishing methods using natural materials, to demonstrate respect for community values and environmental stewardship.
Cross-Curriculum Priority: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures - Students explore traditional metal finishing practices to understand sustainable and culturally appropriate design solutions.
Finishing metals involves filing, polishing, and coating to improve appearance and durability. Filing smooths edges using files. Polishing creates shine with abrasives. Coating protects against corrosion using paint or plating.
Safety includes wearing gloves and masks during finishing. Indigenous practices use natural coatings for tools. Year 7 students apply these techniques in design. Finishing enhances product quality.
These methods support sustainable design in technology.
In filing, begin with coarse files to remove excess material, then use finer files for a smooth surface. Always file in one direction to prevent scratches. Polishing involves applying abrasive compounds on rotating wheels, progressing from rough to fine grits for a mirror finish. This reduces friction and enhances appearance.
Coatings such as paint, powder, or electroplating provide corrosion resistance; for example, zinc plating (galvanizing) protects steel. Ventilation is essential to avoid fumes from coatings. Indigenous methods often used natural polishes like animal fats or clays. Students should select finishes based on the project's requirements for durability and aesthetics in sustainable design.
Here are 20 words from the reading for spelling practice (click to hear the word and a sentence):