Year 10 Materials Technology – Touch torch
Planning for the: Technological Systems component within this unit.
(Note: This is not a complete unit plan for the touch torch unit).
Curriculum details:
Context
Resistant materials
Strand:
Technological Knowledge
Component:
Technological systems
Curriculum Level:
Four
Time Allocation:
Overview:
The touch torch project is a term long project. Student’s design and make a touch torch using a
standard pre-printed circuit board. The circuit boards are made in China for the college and come
complete with the college name printed on the circuit board (see photo). Using this standard circuit
board a starting point students then solder their components on and design and make the case for
the torch. Alongside this practical work students learn some basics about electronics and
technological systems and apply these understandings in their torch project.
Aim: (for covering technological systems)
By looking at concepts related to technological systems students will understand how their own
touch torch is a technological system and they will learn how their system is controlled and how to
represent the system diagrammatically using standard conventions.
Prerequisite:
All students would have completed a module on technological systems in year 9 hard materials.
Learning Outcomes:
Students can:
• explain how transformation processes within a system are controlled
• describe examples to illustrate how the fitness for purpose of technological systems can be
enhanced by the use of control mechanisms
• communicate, using specialized language and drawings, system related details that would allow
others to create a system that meets both technical and acceptability specifications.
Resources:


Power point presentation on electronics and systems
Brief for touch torch project
Assessment:
Assessment for the technological systems component will be against the level four indicators of
progression and evidence will be gathered as students complete their touch torch project.
Note to teachers:
This unit of work can be adapted for other practical projects. The key idea is how conceptual
understandings related to technological systems can be embedded in a practical project where
students are making their own projects that are in fact simple technological systems.
Teaching plan:
An outline of the teaching on the focus component with possible time allocations, resources.
What
Resources
Indicator of progression
Teacher’s notes: This
 Electronics power
 explain how
indicator is taught using a
transformation
point
combination of theory
processes within a
 Resources for Touch
(Power point) and practical
system are controlled
torch project
(students working on their
own torch project).
Teacher’s notes: This
indicator is taught using a
combination of theory
(Power point) and practical
(students working on their
own torch project).

Teacher’s notes: This
indicator is taught using a
combination of theory
(Power point) and practical
(students working on their
own torch project).


Electronics power
point
Resources for Touch
torch project

describe examples to
illustrate how the
fitness for purpose of
technological systems
can be enhanced by the
use of control
mechanisms
Electronics power
point
Resources for Touch
torch project

communicate, using
specialized language
and drawings, system
related details that
would allow others to
create a system that
meets both technical
and acceptability
specifications.


