DT
Design technology progression of skills, knowledge and vocabulary document
DT in EYFS
In EYFS we have opportunities to develop our design, make and evaluate skills in our classroom areas. The children have free access to various craft and modelling materials and they are questioned on how they could evaluate and improve on what they have made. Children also regularly take part in cooking and baking activities to develop their skills in cooking and nutrition.
Nursery
In Nursery we enjoy baking each week. We make a variety of different recipes and enjoy helping out with each step. We have to make sure we wash our hands first. Here we are making sandwiches to take to the park. We designed, made and then ate them!
In nursery we explore building with a range of materials. Here we have been using clay to make houses. We rolled, patted, pinched and moulded the clay.
Reception
In reception we designed and built houses as part of our topic A Place Called Home. We chose what materials we would like to build our houses with.
Cooking and Nutrition
The cooking and nutrition strand of design technology is covered by all year groups.
Year 1
In year 1 we have been learning about cooking and nutrition by making fruit salads. We sampled a range of fruits first to decide which ones to use. We learnt about how to be safe and clean in the kitchen and made sure to wash our hands thoroughly, before carefully chopping the different fruits. We thought about what we might change or keep the same if we could make them again.
Year 2
We practised our cutting skills and made our own fruit kebab. We followed a design brief and evaluated our kebabs after we ate them.
KS2 Base designed and made pizzas by spreading sauce and adding toppings.
Year 3
We were given a design brief to create a soup for a vegetarian with some specific requirements. We taste tested some soups, looked at their ingredients and evaluated the existing products. We then designed a soup for our user, Lucy, and learned some new cutting techniques called the bridge and claw.
Year 4
We designed and made antipasto platters using a wide range of techniques such as slicing and grating.
Year 5 explored Thai food. They looked at the similarities and differences between recipe ingredients and tastes. They also explored similarities and differences between ingredients of Thai cuisine to their own diets. They taste tested existing products and began to plan their own Thai inspired dish.
Vivienne made Pad Thai she said - “ I liked it because it was flavourful.”
Harry W made Pad Thai - “I didn’t like it. There was too much tomato. If I was going to make Thai food again I would still make pad Thai but I would put less tomato in.”
The children then evaluated their creations after a final taste test. Yum!
Textiles
The textiles strand of design technology is covered in years 1,3 and 6.
Year 1
In Year 1 we learn the basics of sewing by making a glove puppet as part of our Toys from the Past topic. We use a simple running stitch and use glue to add on decorations. Last year we made our puppets sustainable by creating them using recycled materials.
Year 3
We had great fun making a bag to hold small presents in our Design and Technology lessons. We came up with a design criteria, made prototypes to test what material would be best to hold together our bag - we decided on sewing, then drew our design before finally making our own! We tried really hard with the needle and thread to make our bags look as neat as possible before finishing off with drawings and glitter. We also used old clothes and curtains to make our products sustainably.
Look how fab they are!
Year 6
In Year 6 we create Mayan Masks. We learn a variety of stitches and choose which is best for our topic. A range of skills are learnt through this unit such as ways of shaping and stiffening fabrics to create a 3D design. Have a look at some of our amazing masks and designs below.
Structures
The structures strand of design technology is covered in years 2,3 and 5.
Year 2
In DT, children were asked to design a temporary structure for an explorer. They were given a brief to design a structure that was lightweight and easy to assemble outdoors.
Children went around the school and looked at existing structures and what they are made from.
Year 5
We explored existing bridge structures and designs. We used current designs to gather ideas for our own structures. We explored strengthening and stiffening techniques. We were then able to use new knowledge and skills to create and test our prototype structures.
Mechanisms and mechanical systems
The mechanisms and mechanical systems strand of design technology is covered in years 1,2,4 and 5.
Year 1
In Year 1 we learn about wheels and axles and designed our own vehicles that would help us get to school.
Electrical Systems
This strand of DT is covered in Years 4 and 6.
Whole School STEM Projects
Each year we run a whole school STEM project with the aim to enthuse children about STEM related careers. Here are some photos of our recent 'Mission to Mars' project.
We held a whole school STEM event to raise aspirations for children. Children were able to meet a variety of engineers and ask questions about their career.
As part of our whole school STEM Mission to Mars, KS1 Base designed and made a Mars buggy for travelling on Mars.
Nursery took part in a whole school STEM Mission to Mars and designed and built rockets.
As part of our whole school STEM Mission to Mars, reception classes designed rockets. They used air pressure as a force to get their rockets 'into orbit'.
As part of our whole school STEM Mission to Mars, KS2 Base designed and made a Mars Rover.
As part of our whole school STEM Mission to Mars, Year 6 designed and made nutritious, 'long life' snacks for space explorers to enjoy.
Year 3
As part of our 'Mission to Mars' we were asked to create temporary structures for our astronauts to use upon landing. After research we discovered that it doesn't rain on mars so our product does not need to be waterproof, it needs to be lightweight for transport on the rocket and fast to put together. We have explored and evaluated existing products, looked at ways to strengthen and stiffen card (corrugation, ribbing and lamination) and put together different nets. We then designed our structures and looked at our weakened areas and strengthened them. We made fantastic prototype designs!
As part of our whole school STEM Mission to Mars, Year 1 designed and built vehicles for travelling on Mars. They explored wheels and and axels and which would be better for a variety of jobs.
As part of our whole school STEM Mission to Mars, Year 2 have been learning about mechanisms in DT.
We made sliders and levers.
It was a little tricky but very fun!
As part of our whole school STEM Mission to Mars, Year 4 explored pneumatics and made moving parts for their vehicles.
As part of our whole school STEM Mission to Mars, Year 5 designed and built vehicles with pulley and lever systems.
