Design and Technology is a practical, inspiring subject. Children at Streethouse are taught to look for opportunities to solve real life problems by developing ideas and making products. They are given opportunities to reflect on their work, assess each other’s work, and are encouraged to become innovators.

Design and Technology will be taught as part of our creative curriculum. Children’s work will be linked to the topic they are learning about in class. Because the subject has many opportunities for cross curricular learning, teachers will refer to the Design and Technology curriculum in their medium-term planning. For further information see our 3 I’s document which includes our Intent for the subject, how we will implement this and then what the impact of that will be.

This week, Team Finch took their topic learning outside and ate like an Ancient Greek. We made fresh seabass just like the Ancient Greeks used to do. Check out the slideshow below. 

The National Curriculum

Key Stage 1

Through a variety of creative and practical activities, pupils should be taught the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to engage in an iterative process of designing and making. They should work in a range of relevant contexts [for example, the home and school, gardens and playgrounds, the local community, industry and the wider environment]. When designing and making, pupils should 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  

On the picture below is a link to the Design and Technology page on BBC Bitesize for KS1 which has some great information videos and games to use at home to support your child's understand of Design and Technology.

Key Stage 2

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.

On the picture below is a link to the Design and Technology page on BBC Bitesize for KS1 which has some great information videos and games to use at home to support your child's understand of Design and Technology.