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Design and Technologies – Designing for Biodiversity: The Nesting Box Project

Lesson Overview:

Years 9-10 | Design and Technologies | Free Download

Design for biodiversity. Build for impact.
This engaging project invites Year 9–10 students to apply the product design process to a real-world ecological challenge — supporting wildlife through the design of functional and sustainable nesting boxes. Inspired by habitat restoration practices in sustainably managed forests, students explore how design is used to support biodiversity outcomes in both natural and production landscapes.

They research local wildlife species in their own area, investigate how foresters and land managers use design to protect biodiversity, and prototype their own solutions using sustainable materials.

Real-World Connections

• Investigate local native species that depend on tree hollows and how nesting boxes can provide alternative habitat
• Learn how sustainable forestry operations use habitat design and wildlife corridors to balance production and conservation
• Explore real examples of foresters installing nesting boxes in plantations, buffer zones, and agroforestry systems
• Connect product design to regional careers in forestry, conservation, and environmental design

What’s Included

• Student Workbook Resource – online or print versions
  Guided worksheets and activities covering each stage of the design process.
• Teacher Resource
  Detailed lesson plans, background content, suggested answers, and assessment tools.
• Multimedia Support
  Instructional ‘how-to’ videos, technical drawings, digital design exemplars, and accompanying PowerPoint slides.
• Ed Tech Integration
  Includes ForestVR™ immersive videos, Kahoot! quizzes, and video walkthroughs.

Lesson Sequence:

Part 1: Investigating & Defining

• Lesson 1: Design and Technology for Biodiversity Conservation
• Lesson 2: Investigating the End User and Design Brief
• Lesson 3: Investigating Existing Designs & Rapid Ideation

Part 2: Generating, Designing & Producing

• Lesson 4: Generating Technical Drawings
• Lesson 5: Modelling
• Lesson 6: Planning for Production
• Lesson 7: Cutting and Shaping
• Lessons 8–9: Assembly
• Lesson 10: Finishing

Part 3: Evaluating

• Lesson 11: Evaluation

Bonus Resources

• Production Guide Videos – below
  Step-by-step walkthroughs covering cardboard prototyping, tool use, measuring, and model construction.
• 3D Models & Technical Drawings
  Example nesting box designs and scaled technical drawings to support classroom modelling and design development.

Production Guide

Step-by-step instructions, with tips, tricks, materials, safety and preparation guides.

‘HOW-TO’ VIDEOS

Watch along as Claire Baillie, Design & Technologies Teaching Specialist guides you through each step of prototyping and building the nesting box.

Vimeo playlist
YouTube playlist

CARDBOARD MODELS

• Student-designed nesting boxes built at 1:4 scale
• Trial versions to test roof angles, wall ratios, and feature placement
• Optional multiple models to compare design variations

Related Resources:

Thinking outside the Box: The Sustainable Seating Project

Design and Technologies – The Sustainable Seating Project

Sustainable Timber Design: The Phone Stand Project

Design and Technologies – Sustainable Timber Design: The Phone Stand Project

ForestVR Toolkit for Schools - 'How To' Guides

ForestVR Toolkit for Schools – ‘How To’ Guides

Cardboard Construction Techniques - Banyule Nillumbik Tech School

Cardboard Construction Techniques – Banyule Nillumbik Tech School

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Geography & Design and Technologies Years 5/6: Sustainable Schools: Going Green in Your Canteen

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