Student workbook · 4 sessions · Colegio Reina Sofía · Totana
Sections 1 & 2 of the unit · pages 2–5
Technology produces objects and develops systems or strategies that solve problems and satisfy our needs, from the simplest to the most sophisticated.
An object can be a tool, machine or household appliance. A system can be the way a train station is managed, or the way someone who is hurt on a mountain is rescued.
Technology is the practical application of knowledge (science) and skills (technology) to create a solution (an object or a technological system) that allows human beings to satisfy their needs or problems.
Sometimes the process of solving a problem is very simple; generally it consists of various stages in which one or more people are involved — this is the technological process:
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| NEED | Analysis of the need or problem and the conditioning factors. Study of previous cases and their solutions. |
| IDEA | Propose one or various solutions. Agree on and choose the best solution. |
| DEVELOPMENT OF THE IDEA | Tools, materials and labour needed. Prepare a budget. |
| CONSTRUCTION | Construction and testing. |
| VERIFICATION | Evaluate. Write a final report. |
| SOLUTION | The final result of the whole process. |
When a solution has been found, it is converted into a technique — a skill, something we know how to do and that is used for future technological solutions. This is the base of technological evolution.
Several factors take part in the technological process:
Tap the six steps in the correct order — from the first stage to the final solution.
Tap a factor on the left, then tap its matching description on the right.
Complete each sentence with a word from the bank.
Get ready on your device — your teacher is going to launch a live quiz about everything you've just learnt. Answer fast and carefully!
60-second challenge: in pairs, list as many technological solutions (objects or systems) as you can see right now in the classroom. Then choose one and write its NEED → IDEA → SOLUTION in one sentence each.
Section 3 of the unit · pages 6–11
In the workshop we do two types of work: problem analysis (giving ideas, discussing solutions in groups) and hands-on activities (cutting, sticking, using a saw or a drill). These need different spaces: the classroom (to develop ideas), the workshop (tools, workbenches, stools, machinery), the library (to consult material) and the storeroom (materials and projects under construction).
Tidiness is essential: the layout of machinery should make it easy to work, and good organisation of the storeroom avoids accidents. Planning ensures the best use of our time — every student in a group is assigned a task:
| Role | Duties |
|---|---|
| Coordinator | Agree on and coordinate resources, achieve an efficient group effort, speak on behalf of the group. |
| Materials Officer | Find and collect the material needed; recycle material you don't use. |
| Tools Officer | Look after the tools; make sure they are not lost or damaged. |
| Secretary | Collect, check and organise all the documents. |
| Health and Safety Officer | Make sure all classroom workshop rules are followed and all machines are used safely. |
| Cleaning Officer | Make sure all members leave their workspace clean and orderly. |
Hygiene is the part of medicine that deals with staying healthy and preventing illnesses. Safety is the prevention of and personal protection from risk when doing an activity. Tools and machines in the workshop are useful but dangerous if we don't use them correctly — even a small tool can cause a serious injury.
Rules to remember: know how to use every tool before you start; use the right tool for each job; check tools are in good working order; always have a specific task to do; avoid distractions and pranks; ask first, then use a tool; use the right safety equipment (goggles, gloves) if necessary. Keep your hands clean and dry, inform your teacher immediately of any injury, and tidy your workbench as you work.
Signs are graphic, light, sound or text resources that show or highlight an instruction. There are four types: mandatory signs (you must wear protective gear), warning signs (possible dangers of a tool or substance), prohibition signs (actions that must not be done) and emergency signs (information about emergency equipment and exits).
Tap a sign, then tap the correct family for it.
Tap a role on the left, then tap its matching duty on the right.
Complete each safety rule with a word from the bank.
Get ready on your device — your teacher is going to launch a live quiz about everything you've just learnt. Answer fast and carefully!
Design your own sign: in your group, design one new mandatory, warning, prohibition or emergency sign for something not shown in the unit. Present it to the class in English.
Section 4 (part 1) of the unit · pages 12–15
We need tools to carry out our projects. Tools are grouped by families, based on the type of work they perform.
1. Tools for measuring, marking and drawing — used to measure the size of objects or make indications about the shape and dimensions of a project: the scribing tool (leaves scratches on metal), the metal drawing compass, the graduated steel ruler, the tape measure (for distances, usually 2–5 m long), the square (perpendicular lines, 90°), the level (checks horizontal/vertical), the protractor (measuring and copying angles) and the caliper (very precise measurement of small objects).
2. Cutting tools — enable you to cut materials to the size you need: the handsaw (straight cuts in wood), the coping saw (thin, straight or curved cuts), electrician's scissors (cutting and peeling cables, plastic-covered handles), sheet metal shears, the cutter knife (paper, cardboard, thin plastic), the hacksaw (metal, plastic or wood) and the electric jigsaw (straight lines or curves).
3. Percussion tools — used to hit a material and change its shape, bend it, break it or fit it into another piece: the ball-peen hammer (bending metal, used by blacksmiths and mechanics), the cross-peen hammer (small nails, used by carpenters), the club hammer (breaking bricks, altering stonework), the rubber mallet (delicate materials, no visible mark) and the claw hammer (designed for hitting nails and removing bent ones).
Tap a tool, then tap the correct family for it.
Tap a tool on the left, then tap what it's used for on the right.
Complete each sentence with a tool from the bank.
Get ready on your device — your teacher is going to launch a live quiz about everything you've just learnt. Answer fast and carefully!
Tool scavenger hunt: in the real classroom workshop, find and photograph (or point to) three tools from today's lesson. In pairs, say their name and their use out loud in English.
Section 4 (part 2) of the unit · pages 16–19
4. Tools for filing and polishing — abrade (waste) the material to reduce it and shape or smooth it: the file (grooved surface, smooths metal or wood), the rasp (rows of triangular teeth, reduces wood thickness), sandpaper (tiny abrasive grains stuck to its surface) and the electric sander (for large surfaces).
5. Drilling tools — used to make holes: the gimlet (simplest, turned by hand), the portable drill (electric motor, plugged into a socket), the rechargeable cordless drill (energy stored in a battery, no cable) and the column drill (fixed on a workbench, more powerful and accurate).
6. Holding tools — ensure a material is firmly held while we work it: the vice (fixed to a workbench, grips objects between its jaws), the clamp (holds two pieces together — the C-clamp is smaller, for narrow objects), universal pliers (gripping and bending, plus an area for cutting wires) and long nose pliers (for holding small objects).
7. Screwdrivers and wrenches — used to attach and detach pieces held together with screws and nuts: screwdrivers (the most common screw heads are slotted and Phillips/crosshead), the Allen or hex key (fits inside hexagonal holes on a screw head), the spanner or wrench (tightens or loosens hexagonal nuts and bolts) and the adjustable spanner (jaws open or close to fit any size of nut or bolt).
Tap a tool, then tap the correct family for it.
Tap a tool on the left, then tap its matching description on the right.
Complete each sentence with a word from the bank.
Get ready on your device — your teacher is going to launch a live quiz about everything you've just learnt. Answer fast and carefully!
Unit review game: as a class, play a quick round-robin — each student names one tool from the whole unit (Sessions 1–4) that hasn't been said yet. Last one standing wins!