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Junior Certificate Technology - Classroom Projectwork
Bird Feeder
Design Task
1. Introduction
This project is a bird house which includes a feeding area containing bird seed. The seed is
housed securely and access is available by opening the lid which is controlled by an electric
circuit. The control switch may be located on the bird house or at a remote location. The
three key focus areas of this project are:
1. The successful operation of a rack and pinion mechanism
2. The successful operation and mounting of limit switches
3. Designing and making an aesthetically pleasing structure that incorporates the
mechanism & circuit housing.
2. Year Group/Term
This project would be suitable for the second or third term of second year or the first term
of third year.
3. Syllabus Topics & Learning Outcomes
The project covers elements of the following syllabus areas:
Design: Designing a range of solutions to the bird feeder which can
accommodate the mechanism and circuit.
Communication: Using a variety of communication techniques to communicate bird
feeder design ideas.
Materials: Developing skills in marking out, assembly & finish in wood & acrylic
to produce the bird feeder.
Mechanisms: Understanding the operation and practical applications of a rack &
pinion mechanism.
Electric Circuits: Developing soldering and assembly skills through constructing, testing
& integrating a forward and reverse motor circuit with limit
switches.
Design and make a feeding station for small
birds which allows controlled access to the
food.
See
Powerpoint
on Resource
DVD
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Aims
To introduce the students to the rack & pinion mechanism, its operation and
applications
To develop the understanding of limit switches when used in conjunction with a
forward and reverse motorised circuit
To encourage creativity in design while working with time and structural constraints
imposed by the brief.
Learning Outcomes
Students should be able to communicate design ideas through the execution,
reading and interpretation of simple sketches and working drawings
Students should be able to build and test a working model of a rack & pinion
mechanism
Students should be able to build a forward and reverse motor circuit with limit
switches and integrate it successfully within the bird feeder structure.
4. Prerequisite Knowledge
Students should have acquired skills in working with a range of materials including
wood and acrylic as well as basic soldering skills
Students need to understand the operation of a forward and reverse motor circuit
with limit switches
Students would also require an understanding of the operation of a range of
mechanisms including the rack and pinion.
(These last two topics may however be developed in conjunction with the practical
element of this project.)
5. Specific Equipment/tools required
Technology room tools & equipment. Sides of wood for housing may be assembled with the
aid of a biscuit joiner if available.
6. Materials required:
Housing may be manufactured in wood (plywood, softwood, hardwood) or plastic (acrylic).
Appendix 1 includes a detailed material list.
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7. Suggested methodology
There are a number of approaches to this project depending on the ability of the students
and the time available.
Option 1
Present students with the entire solution and focus on researching appropriate circuits.
(This element may be made more challenging by including sensors if required – see section
on alternatives below.)
Option 2
Present students with the solution for the food storage element and mechanism and allow
them to design overall external shape. The teacher may impose specific material/size
restrictions on students depending on available resources.
A suitable circuit may be presented by the teacher or researched by the students depending
on the time available.
Option 3 (most difficult, most time required)
Present students with an open ended brief for a bird feeder which has restricted access to
the food area.
8. Procedure/instructions/ information.
See attached sketches in Appendix 2 and attached photos in Appendix 3 for some suggested
construction/assembly details.
9. Health & Safety
The standard Technology room Health & Safety rules and regulations apply.
Hazards specific to this project include the following:
The sides of the bird feeder have a groove to accommodate the rack & pinion. This may be
cut for the students by the class teacher on a table saw or using a router. Alternatively the
students could use narrow moulding/strips of U shaped plastic glued to the sides to achive a
groove.
10. Alternatives
Simpler Solutions
Omit the limit switches and control motor with master on/off switch only.
Omit the mechanism and allow access to the food by manually sliding the top cover.
More challenging solutions
Construct a remote control panel housing the switch so that the operator can open
the food compartment from a remote location.
Specify that access to the food is required in daylight hours only. This requires the
inclusion of an LDR sensor and relay into the circuit.
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11. Assessment/Evaluation
Students should be encouraged to test and evaluate their final product and complete
an assessment sheet (See Appendix viii)
Students could also be given one section of the Junior Cerftificate portfolio to
complete during construction of project. This allows them an opportunity to practice
elements of this third year requirement (Suggestions - Analysis/Research/Design
ideas)
The functionality, quality and finish of the final product could be assessed by the
class teacher.
12. Suggested Resource Material
T4 Resource CD/Resources by Topic/Core: Gears,
Intro to Structures & Mechanisms, etc.
Focus on mechanisms CD
T4 Junior Certificate Technology Resource: Energy & Electricity
Useful Websites: www.t4.ie
www.technologystudent.com
www.flyingpig.com
www.examinations.ie
www.mutr.co.uk
Note: Template for design folio may be found on www.t4.ie
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Appendix 1
Suggested Materials List
Bird Feeder
Material Length(mm)
Width(mm) Thick.(mm) No. Req. Part Name
Plywood 200 65 12 2 Sides
Plywood 120 50 12 3 Front, Back & Division
Plywood 200 144 6 1 Base
Pineboard 300 144 9 1 Back
Acrylic 200 130 5 1 Top of housing
Acrylic 250 140 5 1 Top of house
Wood 35 30 25 1 Motor support
Moulding 15 10 10 2 Trigger for limit switches
Component No. Req
Motor 1
Toggle switch 1
LED 1
Resistor (Size) 1
1.5v battery holder 1
Rack 1
Pinion 1
Limit switches 1
Also required: Wood Glue,
Biscuits for joiner - optional
Screw cups,
Solder,
Exterior Paint/varnish
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Appendix 2 – Sketches
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Appendix 3 - Photos of one completed solution
View from front of bird feeder
Acrylic roof attached with brass
screws and screw cups
On/off switch
Groove to allow rack and pinion to
move
Acrylic cover
View from back of bird feeder
Hole drilled in back
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Storage area for bird seed
Grooves to allow cover to slide
View from under the bird feeder
Plastic rack glued to lid
Base can be removed to allow
access to circuit or mechanism
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Small blocks of wooden moulding to
activate lever switches View from under bird feeder
Slots give the moulding block
space to move when
activating the switch