Toyota Dream Car Art Contest - Using Biomimicry to Design a Dream Car

Australian curriculum content descriptions: 

Years 7 & 8 Design and Technologies:

• Investigate the ways in which products, services and environments evolve locally, regionally and globally and how competing factors including social, ethical and sustainability considerations are prioritised in the development of technologies and designed solutions for preferred futures (ACTDEK029)
• Critique needs or opportunities for designing and investigate, analyse and select from a range of materials, components, tools, equipment and processes to develop design ideas (ACTDEP035)
• Generate, develop, test and communicate design ideas, plans and processes for various audiences using appropriate technical terms and technologies including graphical representation techniques (ACTDEP036)

Years 7 & 8 Visual Arts:

• Experiment with visual arts conventions and techniques, including exploration of techniques used by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, to represent a theme, concept or idea in their artwork (ACAVAM118)
• Practise techniques and processes to enhance representation of ideas in their art-making (ACAVAM121)

Syllabus outcomes: T4.1.1, T4.1.2, T4.1.3, T4.2.1, T4.2.2, T4.4.1, T4.5.2, T4.6.2, VAS4.1, VAS4.3, VAS4.4.

General capabilities: Critical and creative thinking.

Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability OI.8.

Relevant parts of Year 7 & 8 Design and Technologies achievement standards: Students create and adapt design ideas, make considered decisions and communicate to different audiences using appropriate technical terms and a range of technologies and graphical representation techniques.

Relevant parts of Year 7 and 8 Visual Arts achievement standards: Students plan their art making in response to exploration of techniques and processes used in their own and others’ artworks. They demonstrate use of visual conventions, techniques and processes to communicate meaning in their artworks.

Unit of work: Toyota Dream Car Contest.

Time required: 170 mins – artwork could be completed as homework.

Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – facilitate class discussion, guide groups through activities and through the creation of artworks. 

• Paper measuring no larger than 400mm x 550 mm (15.7-21.7in.) or A3 in size
• Butcher’s paper and scrap paper for drafting
• Drawing materials, including but not limited to: coloured pencils, pens/markers, crayons, paints, watercolour paints, etc
• Student Worksheets – one copy per student
• Device capable of presenting a video to the class
• Nature Inspiration Images
• Early Flying Machines
• Previous Contest Winners

This lesson is designed to build students’ competencies in the following skills:

• Collaboration
• Communication
• Creativity
• Critical thinking
• Problem solving

The Toyota Dream Car Art Contest usually commences late October to early November and concludes late to early March. Find up-to-date entry details, prizes and full terms and conditions here.