Design Technology
Lower School Curriculum
The children are given an opportunity to experience a range of materials, tools and techniques in Design & Technology (D&T). They are encouraged to solve design problems for themselves and discuss solutions with one another. Class sizes for these lessons are half normal class sizes.
Autumn Term
- Resistant Materials/Structures - an Egyptian shaduf
- measuring; marking and cutting skills using wood.
Spring Term
- Mechanisms - pop-up story books
- examining card mechanisms; making a book showing a different pop up on each page. This links in with their Geography topic, St. Lucia.
Summer Term
- Resistant Materials - egg mobile
- designing and making a chassis; adding axles and wheels to make the ultimate racing machine to win the Humpty Dumpty Egg Race.
Autumn Term
- Mechanisms - linkages
- understanding how linkages can achieve different functional outputs and using this knowledge to make a Roman display.
Spring Term
- Hydraulics/Pneumatics
- the children learn about how hydraulics and pneumatics can be used to make things move in 'the real world'. They then return to woodworking skills to make a model which literally 'pops up!'
Summer Term
- Textiles
- practise sewing and construction skills to make finger puppets.
Autumn Term
- Textiles 'Manga and Buff'
- making their own 'buff' headgear by using tie and dye and printing techniques. It is sewn together using the sewing machine and a shop display using a manga drawn model head is used as a point of sale.
Spring Term
- Electronics/resistant materials - based on 'The Iron Man'
- the children work in groups to make the Iron Man with lights and possibly moving parts.
Summer Term
- Resistant materials - shelters
- working against the clock to make their shelter from the limited materials that are around before darkness falls.
Upper School Curriculum
Autumn Term
ELECTRONICS
Children learn how to make a simple circuit with a motor and propeller to insert into a vacuum formed boat. This is an introduction to mass production and thermoplastics.
DESIGN ACTIVITIES
Extending the range - SEAL
Spring Term
MECHANISMS
Children learn about types of motion and they have the opportunity to investigate moving toys before making their own 'crankshaft animal'. Follow up activities include investigating gears and pulleys.
Summer Term
PROTOTYPING - Security bags
Children undertake a prototyping activity in order to 'design against crime'.
Autumn Term
CAD/CAM EMBROIDERY
Design and make an embroidered logo using CAD/CAM. Sew together the design on to a personalised water bottle jacket.
Spring Term
ELECTRONICS
Design and make a cyber-pet with electronic components. (ICT/D&T joint project)
Summer Term
ELECTRONICS
Solder the circuit together for the cyber pet and learn about individual components.
Autumn Term
TEXTILES
Use of CAD technology to make paper pattern for making a hat. After modifying the pattern to fit carefully the children sew together a prototype hat.
Spring Term
TEXTILES
Now for the final hat product. When sewing is complete, the children insert their own circuit to complete their party hat with lights and sound.
Summer Term
GRAPHICAL COMMUNICATION
The children will develop their skills using drawing boards.
SEAL / DESIGN ACTIVITIES - 4x4
STRUCTURES COMPETITION - linked with Mill Hill School.
Children are expected to complete some activities as part of their prep. This will be mainly design based or research. There will be at least a week in which to complete the prep and it is expected that the child will bring the work to the next lesson.
Curriculum Enrichment for Gifted or Talented Pupils in D&T
The nature of this subject allows for differentiation depending upon each child's ability. The design brief for each project is generally open ended and allows individuals to develop at their own rate. Teacher input can be altered depending on the need of the child and particularly talented children will be encouraged to try out methods and techniques before making a design decision. Children may also be given extension tasks to stretch them further in a particular area.
Scholarships - Children may be put forward to try for a scholarship in this subject. Towards the end of Year 7 children may be asked to take part in scholarship classes after school in order to prepare them for this challenge.
There is an opportunity for children to develop their skills at D&T club, as part of the activity program, if they so wish. Please see Mrs McSween for further details or refer to the Activities Booklet on the website.
