Every half-term, we have a new topic in Key Stage 1 and 2. (Check out the Class News pages for what’s happening in our Nursery and Reception classes.)
What is this half-term’s topic?
Design and Technology is the driving subject for this half-term and it’s a great topic to finish the year! The focus for all classes this year is construction (next year, it’s textiles). Children will be busy designing and making products using different materials.
A key aspect of the Design and Technology curriculum is the understanding that products don’t just get made. Instead, they go through a design process that includes three key elements:
- evaluate
- design
- make
Think of this process as a cycle. For example, Sphere Motors want to create a new family car. Before the car is made, they need to evaluate existing products and talk to customers so that they’re clear about what the new car needs to have. They will then design the car and evaluate those designs. They may make a prototype of the car to help them evaluate the designs. Next, they’ll decide on a final design that will go into production and get made. This finished product will be evaluated and the whole process starts again.
Each phase has age-related specific knowledge, skills and vocabulary that they’ll learn, use and apply across the topic. See page 14 and 15 of the Topic Curriculum Guide.
Years 1 and 2
Children will be introduced to the design process (design, make, evaluate). They’ll then look at some badly designed products and identify why they are badly designed. Following this, they will set up and perform tests to see what types of shape make strong and stable structures. They’ll then work as groups to create structures out of paper which may be strong enough for a child to stand on. After this, they’ll use the knowledge and skills gained to design and make a chair for Baby Bear from Goldilocks. They’ll design, make, test and evaluate the chair.
Years 3 and 4
Children will be reminded of the design process before learning about design criteria. They’ll look at different products and identify what the design criteria were for each product. They’ll also learn about a pioneering British female designer called Caroline Haslett. Following this, they’ll be given their design brief and design criteria for their project: create a prototype go-kart using TechCard. They’ll investigate existing products before designing, making and evaluating their go-karts. An extra challenge will be to integrate an electric circuit to make their go-kart move.
Years 5 and 6
Children will begin the topic by learning about some different pioneering female engineers. They’ll then look at different bridges and list the design criteria for these bridges. After that, they’ll be introduced to their project for the half-term: create a vehicle for Eggy (the egg). The vehicle will need to meet specific design criteria agreed by the children. One of these design criteria will be about safety. Pupils will investigate different safety features in cars and this will lead to them creating designs for their own cars which have some safety features to protect Eggy. They’ll then make them using different tools. Finally, they’ll put the vehicles through some rigorous tests to evaluate them.
How can you help?
Talk to your child about what they’re learning in class. The Class News page of the school website is a good place to go to find out more about what the children are doing.
The school library and local libraries will have some books about Design and Technology which your child will be able to borrow and develop both their reading skills and design knowledge.
Finally, check out BBC Bitesize KS1 and BBC Bitesize KS2 plus all programmes on CBBC and CBeebies with a Design and Technology focus: