Design and Technology
In Design and Technology, pupils will investigate, design, make and evaluate products that solve real-life problems. There are six strands within our curriculum: cooking and nutrition; mechanical systems; textiles; electrical systems; structures and the digital world. Across these strands, pupils will use a range of increasingly sophisticated tools, materials and processes, developing their technical understanding. They will apply skills from mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art and will be encouraged to problem solve, think critically, use their imaginations and innovate.
Cooking and Nutrition:
Within this strand pupils learn how to:
- - Use basic principles of a healthy and varied diet to prepare dishes.
- - Understand where food comes from.
- - Understand and apply principles of a healthy and varied diet.
- - Prepare and cook variety of predominantly savoury dishes using a range of cooking techniques.
- - Understand seasonality, and know where and how a variety of ingredients are grown, reared, caught and processed.
The pupils enjoy learning about where food comes from, different tastes and how to prepare food. They use these skills to design and make their own menus and meals such as smoothies, spaghetti bolognaise and 3 course meals!
Mechanical systems:
Within this strand pupils learn to:
- - Explore and use mechanisms [for example, levers, sliders, wheels and axles], in their products.
- - Understand and use mechanical systems in their products [for example, gears, pulleys, cams, levers and linkages].
The pupils complete a variety of activities to incorporate these skills; such as looking at wheels and axels, making a moving monster, evaluating and making their own pneumatic toys, making a sling-shot car, designing and making pop up books and games.
Textiles:
Within this strand pupils learn to:
- - Learn the different ways they can join fabrics together.
- - Learn to use running stitch to join two pieces of fabric together.
- - Learn to sew cross stitch and appliqué.
- - Research different types of fabric fastenings before deciding which they want to use.
- - Learn blanket stitch and applying this to a product.
- - Learn how to measure, cut and assemble fabric. They will draw a design in accordance with their own design criteria.
The pupils evaluate a range of existing products and use this to design, make and evaluate their own. They complete a variety of activities such as; making puppets, cushions, stuffed toys and waistcoats.
Electrical Systems:
Within this strand pupils learn to:
- - Understand and use electrical systems in their products [for example, series circuits incorporating switches, bulbs, buzzers and motors].
- - Understand electricity and electrical safety before making a simple electric circuit.
- - Create electromagnetic toys and more complex electronic circuits.
The pupils use this knowledge and skills to create functioning torches and electronic games.
Structures:
Within this strand pupils learn to:
- - Experiment with different shapes and manipulate materials to explore and evaluate a range of structural properties. They apply this knowledge to their own design, make and test task.
- - Explore and experiment with a range of different bridge structures, forces and components involved in bridge building, before designing and making their own to test to destruction.
- - Have the opportunity to be creative and experiment with a wide range of materials and equipment, applying prior knowledge of net and frame structures as well as bracing and cladding to design.
Pupils will be able to design, make and evaluate their own bridges, playgrounds and chairs for story characters.
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Pupil Voice
“I like it because of the joy of producing something. It feels good and you feel proud.”
“Without DT, you wouldn’t know how to patch up socks.”
“You need DT because if you get injured, robots can help you. Some people have robotic arms.”
“If you are going to live by yourself one day, you need to know how to cook.”
“You need DT so you have vehicles to help you travel.”
It’s enjoyable – you have fun whilst you are doing it.”
“It keeps us safe, like people who make bridges and shows us the ways of life.”
“It gets us to collaborate. It’s teamwork.”
“I like it because it can be arty, too!”
“DT makes you think.”
“Your hands are for making things and your mind goes to a creative place.”
Fly To The Line
The children enjoyed taking part in the Fly To The Line project where one of our groups ended up getting to the final at Duxford. It was a great opportunity to apply stem skills to a purposeful activity. It was a fantastic opportunity.
