Creative Design

Through the model treehouse project students learn about architecture, and designing according to the needs of their chosen stakeholder. Students work with natural materials with a focus on creating a custom space to connect with nature.

3D pens can be used for prototyping and model-making, as they allow users to quickly create complex shapes. They are easy to use and colours can be changed as desired. Students start with basic designs and, when confident, create plans and models for personal projects. 

Clay is a stiff, sticky fine-grained earth that can be moulded when wet. Students learn about the properties of Clay and simple techniques such as the pinch and roll methods.  Students use air dry clay which they allow to dry before adding paint or adding other finishing details. 

Carving is the act of using tools to shape something from a material by scraping away parts of that material. Students learn about traditional ways of Maori carving (Whakairo) and how technology has changed the way people carve. They explore properties of different materials such as lino, wood and ceramics as they learn basic techniques.

Pyrography or Wood Burning is the free handed art of decorating wood or other materials with burn marks resulting from the controlled application of a heated object such as a poker. Students learn how to safely use a hot poker machine to burn their images onto a coaster or other creation.

Tie-dye uses the method of dyeing by hand. Coloured patterns are produced in the fabric by gathering together many small portions of material and tying them tightly with string before immersing the material in the dye. This provides students the opportunity to show individuality and creativity as they test their ideas before making their final product.