Chapter Graphic
 : Trend Task: Biscuits
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Approach: One to one Level: 4 & 8 
Focus:   Exploring technological change and its impact 
Resources: 2 pictures
1.5Mb

Questions/instructions:

This activity is about factories where biscuits are made.
Here are two pictures.
Give student picture 1 (old factory).
This picture shows a factory where biscuits were made about 50 years ago.
Give student picture 2 (modern factory).
This picture shows a modern factory where biscuits are being made now.
Place pictures 1 and 2 alongside each other.
Now I would like you to think about the main changes in biscuit factories from fifty years ago to nowadays.

% responses
y4
y8
1. What changes do you notice about the factories?
more modern, sophisticated machinery
74 (72)
90 (89)
fewer or no people involved
67 (59)
85 (90)
more hygenic methods
4 (2)
13 (16)
less dangerous conditions for workers
1 (2)
5 (3)
2. Why have these changes happened?
quantity of biscuits required has increased
4 (2)
11 (9)
increased cost of employing people
3 (3)
12 (16)
more sophisticated machinery developed /available
38 (38)
60 (73)
3. How have these changes affected people’s lives?
distribution networks allow fewer, larger, centralised factories
2 (0)
1 (3)
higher safety/hygiene requirements
4 (5)
8 (17)
less employment (overall)
12 (8)
41 (61)
shift from manual to more sophisticated jobs
18 (9)
21 (18)
less work-related health problems
3 (0)
4 (1)
factory-made biscuits now readily available, cheaper and widely consumed
4 (0)
8 (12)
Total score:         6–13
2 (0)
9 (15)
4–5
17 (9)
41 (54)
3
22 (29)
29 (17)
2
28 (24)
16 (8)
0–1
31 (38)
5 (6)
Commentary:
Students generally commented on the development and use of more sophisticated machinery and the reduction in labour, but largely missed the other issues. About 30 percent more year 8 than year 4 students gained a total score of four or more. Compared to four years earlier, year 4 students had gained slightly, but year 8 students scored slightly lower.
 
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