Design and Technology
Intent
Our children will design and make a range of functional products with themselves and others as their intended user. Through the study of design and technology, the children will combine practical skills with an understanding of aesthetics, social and environmental issues. They will explore and research the designed and made world in which we all live and work. Attention to detail and accuracy will enable them to be successful when making what they have designed and their evaluations will help them think about how they can improve. It will prepare children for the developing world and encourage them to be ambitious problem solvers both as individuals and as part of a team.
Implementation
Design and Technology will be taught either as a block so that the processes can build on the work they have done across the week or two weeks allocated. Alternatively, it will be taught weekly. This will be the case where the design process links to other curriculum subject areas such as history or art.
The two year plan for Design and Technology will ensure that children experience a broad range of design tasks including cooking, textiles, mechanical operations and digital media. As set out below, we have a variety of outcomes, some of which are linked to the theme, whilst others may be relevant to the time of year.
Children will have the opportunity to use a variety of tools and equipment, developing key skills to ensure safety, product waste management and suitability of materials and tools selected for the work they are doing.
Throughout the piece of work, children will have opportunities to design, make prototypes, produce final pieces and evaluate their work.
Year A
Year Group | Autumn | Spring | Summer |
EYFS | Knock, knock, whose there? | What’s inside? | At the bottom of the Garden |
| Cooking and nutrition – healthy sandwiches | Freestanding structures – build animal home | Mechanisms – sliders and levers – mini gardens |
KS1 | Let’s remember | Australia | Flight: Up, up and beyond |
| Mechanisms – sliders and levers – Christmas card or calendar. | Textiles – Make a puppet | Cooking and nutrition – British food
|
LKS2 | Democracy Ancient Greece | Borders and boundaries | Eco-Warriors |
| Cooking and nutrition – dips and dippers Greek food | Shell structures – packaging for and Easter Egg. | Mechanical systems – levers and linkages – Rainforest animal toy |
Mid KS2 | Extreme Environments | The Arrival | The Nile |
| Food from different cultures – bread | Textiles – combining different fabric shapes – bags for refugees to carry items | Mechanical systems – model of an Egyptian moving water system |
UKS2 | Identity | The Home Front | Theory of Evolution |
| Electrical systems – monitor and control – alarm for valuable artefact. | Construction – outdoor learning – bug hotel | Frame structures – outdoor learning - shelters |
Year B
Year Group | Autumn | Spring | Summer |
EYFS | Superhero me! | On the Farm | Rumble in the Jungle Motion in the ocean |
| Mechanisms – sliders and levers – superhero picture | Cooking and nutrition – fantastic fruit from a farm – fruit salad | Textiles – Tiger’s picnic blanket (Tiger who came to Tea) |
KS1 | Fire, Fire! | Houses and homes | Seaside rescue |
| Freestanding structures – make a model of a house to be burnt in the great fire of London. | Cooking and nutrition – fruit smoothies | Mechanisms – wheels and axles – push/pull toy vehicles |
LKS2 | Stone to Iron Age
| Chocolate | Virconium- Roman Britain |
| Textiles – 2D shape to 3D product – purse or wallet | Cooking and nutrition – chocolate with a twist | Electrical systems – simple circuits and switches - nightlight |
Mid KS2 | Conflict Battlefield | Volcano! | Invaders! Viking/Anglo Saxons |
| Textiles – felt phone case with applique or embroidery finish. | Cooking and nutrition – Easter muffins | Mechanical systems – pulleys and gears – toy vehicle |
UKS2 | Identity | The Home Front | Theory of Evolution |
| Electrical systems – monitor and control – alarm for valuable artefact. | Construction – outdoor learning – bug hotel | Frame structures – outdoor learning - shelters |
Design Technology progression grid
Impact
At the beginning and end of each project, the children will complete assessments which will test their skills and abilities in the work they are due to undertake. They will have an opportunity to review their work throughout the project to refine it and make improvements, taking into account the audience.
Teachers will assess the work children are undertaking and their skills with the specific tools, materials or techniques they are using.
We aim to display the outcomes of work either in school or in other public places so children are aware their final outcomes will be shared with a wider audience.
At the end of each year, children will be assessed against the progression documents to identify if they are working towards, at or above age related expectations. This will be reported to parents through the end of year reports.