Little J is initially scared to approach the ‘monster’ in the back yard. Encouraged to face his fears, he vows to catch the frilly-necked monster and sets about building a monster trap with the help of Levi.

Explore - Explore needs or opportunities for designing, and the technologies needed to realise designed solutionGenerate, develop and record design ideas through describing, drawing and modelling.

Theme - DESIGNING

Throughout history many different inventions have assisted people to live more technologically. Connect to ABCMe to find the interactive My Place, ABC webpage.
Select the ‘Before time’ eras to view the traditional Aboriginal weapons. Talk about how weapons were important for survival. Pay particular attention to the materials used to make the weapons, tools, and containers, etc.

Conduct a virtual visit to Bunjilaka exhibition resources, Museums Victoria Collections. Explore the collection of traditional Aboriginal cultural objects and tools. Ask students to think about the shape, size and design of each object.

Ask students to nominate a weapon that Aboriginal peoples used, and what food they caught using it, for example, a boomerang to catch kangaroo, spear thrower for emu, flint axe, shield, etc. List these inventions and draw their designs in the student Design journal. Have students label their diagrams with the materials used to make the weapons, and the methods of their construction.

Have students find examples of other indigenous weapons from different cultures. Develop a class virtual exhibition of the weapons to share with others.

Consider different applications of weapons for humans. Ask students to design a ‘weapon’ to protect against the ‘frilled-neck monster’. It should use sound to ward off the monster, and be able to launch cork tops at a target. Ask students to evaluate:

• What purpose does it meet?
• What do I like about it?
• How can it be improved?

The students should enter their designs, process and new terminology in their Design journal. Photograph and display the weapons to share electronically with others.