STRUCTURES
TECHNOLOGY
GRADE 7
TERM 2
IDENTIFYING STRUCTURES
Look around your classroom and identify ONE structure. Then answer the
following questions:
1) What is this structure called?
2) What is it used for?
3) Can it be used to keep certain things in place, perhaps to prevent items
from lying around?
4) Can it be used to protect something, perhaps to prevent the item from
being in the sunlight or wind?
5) Is it used to support something?
LET’S RECAP THE PURPOSE OF
STRUCTURES
What is the purpose of the following
structures?
Practical application
Own structure to protect goods sold in
Design: the street.
Title: Creative name Author: You guys
Purpose of this structure:
The structure must protect the user from the elements:
wind, rain, sunshine.
The structure must also protect the goods from the
external elements (must be big enough to cover the
mat/tables.
Purposes of structures
01 Support 02 Span
Structures are made to hold
Cover a distance.
other structures up.
03 Protect 04 Contain
Covers and ensures anything Holds other substances well
on the inside is safe. (hollow).
Some structures achieve
more than one purpose
A house is a structure that does the following:
- contains: keeps items within it (furniture, people, etc.)
- protects: keeps all items protected from the elements (rain,
wind, sun, cold)
as well as certain types of danger.
- supports: some houses have multiple storeys and can
support many floors.
All houses have a strong foundation that supports the large
components that make up the house.
Identify at least 2 more structures that achieve more
than 1 purpose.
Identify each of the following structures,
whether they are man-made or natural, and
what purpose they fulfil.
b
c.
.
a
d
.
.
f.
e
.
8
Let’s identify our own
structures
1) Name any 3 man-made structures
that provide protection.
2) Name any 3 man-made structures
that provide support.
3) Name any 3 man-made structures
that contain things.
Types of structures 3 types
Frame: consists of parts put
Solid: – consists entirely of Shell: consists of a hollow
together in a specific way to
one type of material that interior that is held up by an
strengthen and support the
provides support to anything external structure. External
structure. Have internal
that is placed on top of it. strength/support.
strength/support.
Identify the 3 types of
structures below
Time to do an activity!
Name: Structures
Prepare a double page in your book (landscape).
You will be making a collage of structures according to the following
instructions:
- Cut out/draw/print pictures of: man-made and natural structures,
with at least 2 of each being solid, frame and shell structures.
- LABEL each structure (state what it is and its PURPOSE).
An example
Natural structures
Man – made structures
Frame structure
Shell structure
Mug – contains liquids
Skeleton – supports,
protects organs.