Design Technology

Design and Technology at The Links

Curriculum Intent

Design is a funny word. Something people think design is how it looks, but of course if you dig deeper it is really how it works.

Steve Jobs

Our Design Technology Curriculum will provide our children with a wide range of experiences, allowing us to nurture and grow their creativity and equip them with relevant skills for life in our rapidly changing technological world.

We want our children to be inspired by a range of professionals including engineers, designers, architects and chefs and have high aspirations for their futures.

We encourage children to use their creativity and imagination, to design and make products using a wide range of tools and equipment that solve real and relevant problems with a variety of contexts.

We believe that design technology helps prepare children in a developing world and encourages them to become curious and creative problem solvers both as individual and as part of a team.

Opportunities to work alongside Computer Lego experts, STEM ambassadors and museum workshops are offered to enhance the learning experience.

Aims of Design and Technology

We aim to ensure that all pupils:

Develop the creative, technical and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and to participate in an increasingly technological world.
Build and apply a repertoire of knowledge, understanding and skills in order to design and make prototypes and products for a wide range of users.
Develop the ability to control materials, tools and techniques.
Select from and use a wider range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their functional properties and aesthetic qualities.
Understand and use mechanical systems and electrical systems in their products.
Confident to take risks, solve problems and adapt designs.
Critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products and the work of others.
Evaluate existing products and their own and evaluate its impact on daily life.
Understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook.
Use subject specific vocabulary.
Children record work in their sketch books.

Year EYFS-6 Curriculum Overview: Long Term Plan:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
EYFS	Caves /dens	Super hero lollipop stick puppet	Cars/boats
Year 1	Structures-free standing	Fruit Kebab Food-Preparing fruit and vegetables	Moving pictures Mechanisms-sliders and levers
Year 2	Fire Engines Mechanisms-wheels and axles	Pack Lunch Food-healthy sandwich, chopping and grating	Glove/Sock Puppet Textiles-Joining techniques
Year 3	Farm to Fork-e.g. chips, soup, other Food-Origins and seasons	Mountain Pulley Mechanical- pulley systems	Bridge Structure Free standing structures
Year 4	Christmas Decoration Textiles-2D/3D products	Inventions using levers. Levers and linkages e.g. Catapults, arm, dragon etc	African Food Food- celebrating culture
Year 5	Make a pouch Textiles-combining fabric/fasteners	DT-Cars Forces Electrical- motor Structure-shells	Moving Animals/monsters Pneumatics
Year 6	2024Torches Electrical systems-motors, circuit, battery 2023- Cars Forces We build Lego man	DT-Market Stall Food-Smoothies, cakes, chocolate design and sell Entrepreneur skills

How can parents assist with this subject?

Ideas of how you can help your child develop their DT learning and skills:

Work together to make projects at home. This could be with a variety of materials of could simply be during play. Design and make products together.
Try cooking together or creating a dish together. You could make savoury or sweet dishes e.g. sandwiches, soups, deserts, cakes etc. You could also link to their learning about the world and try creating dishes from around the world.

Encourage creativity whenever your child is making something. Follow their interests and see what their imagination creates.
Remind your child about health and safety measures when participating in DT e.g. when you cook, or if you construct something together.
Encourage your child to evaluate their creations. Talk together about what is great about their products and what could they do to make them even better.
Use topic themes and home learning opportunities to investigate how materials are suitable for different purposes.
Encourage your child to be resourceful in their choice of methods and materials.

Home Learning Challenges

Extra activities to try at home…
Junk modelling – create a model of an NHS emergency vehicle using recyclable materials.
Help an adult with some DIY around the house.
Design and make a bird house.
Make a card for a friend or family member including a lever.
https://www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk/engineering-at-home – Follow instructions with useful diagrams to undertake engineering projects at home. There are challenges at the end of the tasks to develop your skills further, testing out your designs and models.

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https://realfood.tesco.com/recipes/dinosaur-biscuits.html
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