Language

Through evaluating existing designs and products the children will be explaining what they like and dislike, giving reasons for preferences, they will be articulating how they might improve designs and products using technical terms and reasons as a matter of routine.  They will be learning the names of tools, materials and techniques that they use when engaged in designing, making and evaluating their own and others’ products.

Experiences

Through a rich and varied design technology curriculum the children will investigate and critique existing products, they will design and make their own product to fulfil a need, a want or a gap in the market. They will continue to reflect and modify their work in order to improve it and meet the design criteria.

They will experience developing skills of investigating, designing, making, evaluating, drawing, explaining, justifying (decisions about materials, tools and techniques used), planning, analysing, cutting, joining, measuring, shaping, sewing, screwing, gluing, nailing, sawing, drilling, filing, sanding, cooking, peeling, grating, mixing, weighing, creating circuits incorporating batteries, bulbs and motors.  They will apply scientific knowledge to choose appropriate mechanisms for a product such as levers, winding mechanisms, pulleys and gears.  The children will find out about a range of materials, tools, techniques, mechanisms, constructions, textiles, food, electricals and electronics. 

We aim to teach at least 3 DT topics a year and hope to repeat the successful whole school project where every year group design and make something of a similar theme giving them the opportunity to show off the progression of skills of their year group.

Amethyst

The children will require resourcefulness to find out about existing products and evaluate their form and function (do they work? do they look good?) and consider how they might adapt or improve the product.  The children will require skills of reciprocity when critiquing and evaluating the work of others, understanding the need to be kind and specific in their suggestions for improvements and also to take on-board other people’s suggestions to improve their own work.

Resilience is required throughout our problem-based curriculum. The children will be challenged every lesson, to try their best and to improve upon their work following feedback.  They may find some aspects of design technology difficult so the skills of perseverance are required.  They will be reflecting on their work and that of others, to discuss it, critique it and improve upon it.

Power to change the world

Through understanding design technology, children will learn how design and technology have contributed to change throughout time.