Design Technology Curriculum - The Big Picture
Philosophy
Design & Technology prepares children to design and produce solutions to problems of tomorrow’s world. It encourages children to become creative problem solvers. D&T enables children to identify the needs of others and the opportunities to respond to them. In line with the primary National Curriculum for Design & Technology, throughout Key stages 1 and 2 our pupils will have learning experiences that encourages them:
- To develop their creativity, imagination and problem solving skills.
- To learn how to take risks, become resourceful, innovative and enterprising.
- To evaluate technology of the past and present and develop an appreciation of the impact technology has on daily life.
Implementation
Designing, Making & Evaluating
In EYFS, children explore the world and develop their understanding of how different aspects of the world work. They select and use appropriate tools and material to accomplish tasks and work collaboratively to achieve this. We encourage the development of skills, knowledge and understanding that help children make sense of their world. We relate this development to the objectives set out in the Early Learning Goals. This learning forms the foundations for later work in design and technology.
In KS1 and KS2, through a variety of creative and practical activities, pupils should be taught to design, make and evaluate purposeful products for themselves and other users; using a range of tools and materials. Children will learn how to design, make and evaluate products in the following areas of D&T: structures, mechanisms, textiles, food, and electrical systems* (*KS2 only).
Children will have the opportunity to experience D&T over the course of three units per year. When D&T is taught in KS1, this lays the foundation for children to build on their learning later in KS2, ensuring that there is progression in children’s learning as they move up through the school.
Technical Knowledge
In each D&T unit there is an element of specific technical knowledge that the children must learn in order to successfully design. make and evaluate their products. By the end of KS2, children should learn: to build structures, exploring how they can be made stronger and more stable; to explore and construct working mechanisms (eg, levers, sliders, wheels, axles, gears, pulleys and cams); how textile products are joined together using a range of joining techniques (eg, glueing or sewing); and to use electrical components in their products (eg, circuits switches, bulbs, buzzers and motors).
Cooking & Nutrition
Learning how to cook is a crucial life skill that enables pupils to feed themselves and others affordably and well, now and in later life. By the end of KS2, pupils should learn to: understand and apply the principles of a healthy and varied diet; prepare and cook a variety of dishes using a range of cooking techniques; and understand seasonality, and know where and how a variety of ingredients are grown, reared and processed.
Impact
Teacher assessment is used to review children’s progress and to inform future planning. Formative assessment and verbal feedback from teachers during lessons is essential for children to make progress and be successful. Evaluation is a key element of D&T and children should be encouraged to make oral and written evaluations of their work and peer assess each other’s work. Children should record their designs, plans and evaluations of their work.
Curriculum Map
Subject List
Year 1
Autumn 1
Structures
Freestanding structures
Autumn 2
n/a
Spring 1
Food
Exploring, tasting and describing fruit
Spring 2
n/a
Summer 1
Mechanisms
Sliders and levers
Summer 2
n/a
Year 2
Autumn 1
Mechanisms
Wheels and axles
Autumn 2
n/a
Spring 1
Textiles
Templates and joining techniques
Spring 2
n/a
Summer 1
Food
Fruit salads and smoothies
Summer 2
n/a
Year 3
Autumn 1
Food
Sandwich snacks
Autumn 2
n/a
Spring 1
Mechanical systems
Pneumatics
Spring 2
n/a
Summer 1
Structures
Shell structures
Summer 2
n/a
Year 4
Autumn 1
Mechanical Systems
Levers and linkages
Autumn 2
n/a
Spring 1
Textiles
2D shapes to 3D product
Spring 2
n/a
Summer 1
Electrical Systems
Simple circuits and switches
Summer 2
n/a
Year 5
Autumn 1
Structures
Frame structures
Autumn 2
n/a
Spring 1
Food
Celebrating culture and seasonality
Spring 2
n/a
Summer 1
Mechanical systems
Pulleys and gears
Summer 2
n/a
Year 6
Autumn 1
Mechanical Systems
Cams
Autumn 2
n/a
Spring 1
Textiles
Combining different fabric shapes
Spring 2
n/a
Summer 1
Electrical Systems
More complex switches and circuits (including programming, monitoring and control)
Summer 2
n/a