Cross Curricular

ICT Unit 6C - To develop a system that controls events in response to conditions
Linked to design and technology 6C ‘Fairground’

Integrated Task 6

Explain to the children that they are going to produce a sign for a fairground ride. The sign will have flashing lights, a switch to start the ride and a switch to stop it. A buzzer will sound when the ride stops.

Ask the children to work in groups to design their sign, deciding where the lights and alarm switches will be situated. Now ask them to transfer this design on to a computer. The sign should be bright and attractive, with a variety of font effects, and should include graphics. Ask the children to print out their work and glue it to card. They should then make holes for the bulbs and switch.

Next, ask each group to write a sequence of instructions to make the lights flash; for the ride to start up when the switch is pressed; for it to stop when the second switch is pressed; and for a buzzer to sound. Encourage the children to discuss the effects of their work, and to make modifications as they go along.

Alternatively, children could extend the models they have made in design and technology lessons. They could design and make various fairground rides in groups and then connect these to a control box. Each ride should have at least one input and two outputs, eg a bumper car with two sensors fitted onto the rear and front bumpers (when the car touches something, it should stop and change direction); a ferris wheel with an alarm system operated by a switch, and lights which come on when it goes dark – the motor should change speed and direction.

Encourage the children to discuss any problems encountered during the process. They should describe the changes they made in refining and amending their programming.

Learning Outcomes

• use input and output devices, and produce a simple set of instructions linking causes and effects