"Pen Pals", School Journal, level 2, September 2018
08 September 2018
In this report, students from Arataki School describe how they are getting to know the residents at a retirement home by becoming their pen pals.
You can find the article and the teaching notes here: Pen Pals, School Journal, level 2, September 2018
Other useful resources
Learning about technology through toys
These students learnt about toys from the past and created their own toy. The students could discuss favourite toys with their pen pals.
Technological systems in a toys context
These students learnt about technological systems, visited a museum and looked at toys from the past, and then made their own toy that was a technological system. The students could discuss with their pen pals a toy that they play with that is a technological system and ask their pen pals if they can remember a toy that they have played with that was a technological system.
Moira Patterson describes how exploring technological systems is essential – and fun.
Discussion questions
These could include:
- My favourite toy is … Can you tell me about your favourite toy as a child?
- Are you able to tell me about what it looked like, for example its size, shape, colour, smell, texture, components (physical attributes). How did you play with the toy and what did the toy do? (functional attributes)
- What is the relationship between the physical and functional attributes. For example: the soft fur-like fabric that the toy is made from makes it soft and cuddly, the lego pieces are interlocking blocks so that you can build structures with them.
- Did you ever play with toys that once you turned them on or wound them up they continued to go without any further input from you? What were the physical and functional attributes of these toys?
Indicators of progression for discussion starters
| Component | Indicator | Level |
| Characteristics of technological outcomes |
| 2 |
| Technological systems |
| 2 |