Design & Technology Department
Head of DT: Miss J. Roberts
What is design and Technology?
“Design and technology makes a unique contribution to the development of all young people by preparing them to participate in tomorrow’s rapidly changing technologies. They learn to think and intervene creatively to improve quality of life. The subject calls for pupils to become autonomous and creative problem solvers, as individuals and members of a team. They must look for needs, wants and opportunities and respond to them by developing a range of ideas and making products and systems. They combine practical skills with an understanding of aesthetics, social and environmental issues, function and industrial practices. As they do so, they reflect on and evaluate present and past design and technology, its uses and effects. Through design and technology, all pupils can become discriminating and informed users of products, and become innovators.”
OFSTED (1993/94)
Aims
Our aims in teaching Design and technology are that all children will:
- Find DT fun and in a safe structured environment do as much practical work as possible.
- Develop their designing and making skills.
- Develop their capability to create high quality products through combining their designing and making skills with knowledge and understanding.
- Nurture creativity and innovation through designing and making.
- Explore values about attitudes to the made world and how we live and work within it.
- Develop an understanding of technological processes and their contribution to our society.
In design and technology, children acquire and apply knowledge and understanding of:
- Materials and components
- Mechanisms and control systems
- Structures
- Existing products
- Quality
- Health and safety
Children will:
- Develop designing skills
- Acquire and refine the practical skills associated with making.
- Apply scientific skills, for example, as predicting and fair testing.
- Apply mathematical skills, for example, measuring and calculating.
- Apply information technology skills by the use of control.
- Apply art skills in the use of finishing techniques.
Websites:
The Design Museum
Take a tour of the London Museum of Design
National Curriculum in Action
Take a look at the Design and Technology National Curriculum
The Design Technology home page
For help with all of your Design needs.
Topics Summer 2010
Year 1 (Cubs)
Year 2 (Lions)
Year 3
Elastic Band Vans:
Project: Pupils in Year 3 will be making small elastic powered vans. They will construct the chasse from square section wood and power the axle with a simple elastic mechanism. Once they have completed the base of the car they will be using a template, cut using the Computer Aided Design machine (Camm 1) to create the shell of the vehicle. This shell can be decorated with thier own design. The vans will be raced at the end of the term and prizes awarded for speed, distance and design.
Year 4
Hand Puppets:
Project: Pupils in Year 4 will be completeing a textiles project this term. They will design individual puppets and then in groups they will write a short script to incorporate all of their characters. They will then make their puppets out of felt and various other materials and perform thier puppet show at the end of term to the remainderof the year group.
Year 5
Flat Packed Battery Testers:
Project: Pupils in Year 5 will be designing and making Battery Testers using the heat sensitive smart material, thermocolour film. They will be making two testers each. One is designed for themselves and one is designed for a parent. This will teach a little bit about the importance of thinking about others likes when it comes to designing.
Year 6
Co-ordination Games:
Project: Pupils in Year 6 will be designing and constructing a wooden game involving a ball bearing being dragged around a course. Once completed it helps to improve hand-eye co-ordination.
Year 7
Hedge Hog Houses:
Project: Pupils in Year 7 will be undertaking a good old fashioned wood work project this term. They will be building hedge hog houses that can be taken home and placed in the garden in winter!
Year 8
Crib Boards
Project: Pupils in Year 8 will be learing how to play the game of Cribbage. They will then be making their own board for the game using a combination of wood and metal.
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