ACTDEP035: The nature of materials and their properties in design and technologies, such as timbers in woodwork.
ACTDEP036: Generate, develop, test and communicate design ideas, plans and processes for various audiences using appropriate technical terms and technologies including graphical representation techniques.
ACTDEP037: Select and justify choices of materials, components, tools, equipment and techniques to effectively and safely make designed solutions.
Aboriginal Cultural Standards Framework: Cultural Responsiveness Standard - Staff embed Aboriginal cultural knowledge, such as traditional timber use in the Kimberley and Pilbara regions, to demonstrate respect for community values and environmental stewardship.
Cross-Curriculum Priority: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures - Students explore pre-contact and contemporary uses of Australian timbers to understand Indigenous innovation and adaptation in material use.
Sustainable timber sourcing is crucial to minimize environmental impact in woodwork. It involves harvesting wood without depleting forests, ensuring regeneration. In Western Australia, practices protect unique timbers from the Kimberley and Pilbara. Boab and bloodwood in the Kimberley are sourced responsibly to avoid deforestation. In the Pilbara, mulga and gidgee are harvested with care to preserve arid ecosystems. Unsustainable logging leads to soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, and climate change.
Certification schemes like FSC ensure ethical sourcing. Indigenous knowledge from Kimberley and Pilbara communities guides sustainable methods. Replanting and selective cutting maintain balance. Environmental impact includes carbon sequestration, as trees absorb CO2. WA jarrah forests store carbon, but overharvesting releases it. In woodwork, using recycled or certified timber reduces footprint. Future generations benefit from preserved regions like Kimberley. Sustainable practices support biodiversity and economy. (Word count: 278)
Here are 20 words from the reading for spelling practice (click to hear the word and a longer sentence with context and meaning):