Design and Technology
Design and Technology at Barden
Design and Technology curriculum intent
At Barden Primary School, we aim to provide a high quality Design and Technology curriculum which promotes children’s creativity and imagination and allows them to become innovative designers, inventors and engineers.
Children are given the opportunity to design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values and to develop the practical expertise that is needed to undertake this. To promote children’s creative, technical and imaginative thinking we encourage them to design, create and evaluate products through an iterative approach, in which they constantly reflect on their product and adapt their design where necessary, with technical knowledge and relevant vocabulary shared at each stage.
When making their products, the children are given choice and a wide range of tools and materials to choose from. When evaluating, the children are taught to evaluate their own products against the initial design criteria to see how well it has met the needs and wants of the intended user and to identify any changes that could be made. We aim to make links to designs and designers throughout history, providing opportunities for children to critically reflect upon and evaluate others designs and the overall effectiveness of the product before evaluating their own.
Through our Design and Technology curriculum, the children have the opportunity to develop their skills in mechanisms, structures, textiles, mechanical systems, electrical systems and cooking and nutrition. We provide children with examples of technology in action, opportunities to analyse why everyday objects have developed in a particular way and the chance to apply their technological skills in a range of design tasks and challenges. We encourage children to express individuality and creativity in their work and to keep their own personalised sketchbooks where they can explore ideas, be inventive and take risks.
It is our aim for children to acquire a broad range of subject knowledge in design and technology, drawing on subjects such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art. Through the evaluation of past and present design and technology, they will develop a critical understanding of its impact on daily life and the wider world. They will be encouraged to take risks, becoming resourceful and innovative and will be supported to question and evaluate how things work, and consider ways to improve the world around them.
Design and Technology Curriculum Overview 2020-21
Design and Technology is delivered as part of the Barden Learning Challenge Curriculum. This meets the expectations set out in the National Curriculum.
Key Stage 1
Pupils will be taught to:
Design
- design purposeful, functional, appealing products for themselves and other users based on design criteria
- generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through talking, drawing, templates, mock-ups and, where appropriate, information and communication technology
Make
- select from and use a range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks [for example, cutting, shaping, joining and finishing]
- select from and use a wide range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their characteristics
Evaluate
- explore and evaluate a range of existing products
- evaluate their ideas and products against design criteria
Technical knowledge
- build structures, exploring how they can be made stronger, stiffer and more stable
- explore and use mechanisms [for example, levers, sliders, wheels and axles], in their products
Key Stage 2
Pupils will be taught to:
Design
- use research and develop design criteria to inform the design of innovative, functional, appealing products that are fit for purpose, aimed at particular individuals or groups
- generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through discussion, annotated sketches, cross-sectional and exploded diagrams, prototypes, pattern pieces and computer-aided design
Make
- select from and use a wider range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks [for example, cutting, shaping, joining and finishing], accurately
- 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
Evaluate
- investigate and analyse a range of existing products
- evaluate their ideas and products against their own design criteria and consider the views of others to improve their work
- understand how key events and individuals in design and technology have helped shape the world
Technical knowledge
- apply their understanding of how to strengthen, stiffen and reinforce more complex structures
- understand and use mechanical systems in their products [for example, gears, pulleys, cams, levers and linkages]
- understand and use electrical systems in their products [for example, series circuits incorporating switches, bulbs, buzzers and motors]
- apply their understanding of computing to program, monitor and control their products
Design and Technology -Year Group Expectations and End Points
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Year 2 have been making moon buggies at home as part of their Space Invaders topic.
Year 5 designing and making Anglo Saxon buildings.
As part of their topic on World War 2, Year 6 designed and created Anderson shelters.
Year 3 designed and made their own delicious pies as part of their Food Glorious Food topic.
Year 2 designed and made their own "Brilliant Burnley" bags.
Parent Help/Links
These websites are a great resource to support you in engaging in design and technology learning at home.
If you do any amazing design and technology activities at home, don't forget to email your child's class teacher. You might get to see your photos on this page!