Design and Technology – curriculum information

Intent

Design and technology is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject. Children are taught to design, make and evaluate products within a range of contexts including: home and school; gardens and playgrounds; the local community; industry; and the wider environment. Children will make products that are purposeful, functional and appealing by using a variety of media including food, textiles and construction materials. Additionally, children will explore the work of others.

Victoria Dock Primary School, alongside other Primary schools within the Constellation Trust, will be following KAPOW Primary as there chosen Design and Technology curriculum. KAPOW “aims to inspire pupils to be innovative and creative thinkers who have an appreciation for the product design cycle through ideation, creation, and evaluation. We want pupils to develop the confidence to take risks, through drafting design concepts, modelling, and testing and to be reflective learners who evaluate their work and the work of others. Through our scheme of work, we aim to build an awareness of the impact of design and technology on our lives and encourage pupils to become resourceful, enterprising citizens who will have the skills to contribute to future design advancements”.

Within the Early Years Foundation Stage, children will explore different materials and learn to join these materials together using a range of techniques and resources. During provision time, children are urged to create a design, and then use the materials available to them to recreate their imaginations. They will then evaluate their own work and compare it to others as the year progresses, as well as providing information as to how they would change their creation if it were to be done again. Cooking is widely used within the Foundation Stage, with a high importance upon the child understanding what a healthy diet is, and knowing that hands must be washed to destroy any germs on the skin before preparing/eating food.

Within Key Stage 1, children will explore mechanisms and structures to develop their technical understanding. Throughout Key Stage 2, children will continue to extend this mechanical knowledge and additionally include electrical components and computer programming within their products. As a result, cross Curricular links can be made with subjects such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art.

Healthy cooking is integral to all Key Stages. Not only will children learn how to cook safety but also consider food’s nutritional value. Children will look at where food comes from and how it is produced, packaged and transported.

Implementation

The Design and Technology National Curriculum outlines the three main stages of the design process: design, make and evaluate. Technical knowledge underpins each area of the design process and will become noticeable throughout each of the different strands. Cooking and Nutrition has its own individual section, where it will have more of a focus upon specific principles, skills and techniques within its own area of learning.

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].

Cooking and Nutrition:

Pupils will be taught how cook and apply the principles of nutrition and healthy eating. An aim to promote a love of cooking for the future generations to come will be instilled throughout, allowing them to prepare meals for themselves and others. A progression of skills will be followed throughout the child’s Primary education, focusing upon healthy eating strategies and preparation of food in the Foundation Stage. The understanding of where food comes from, and learning the basic principles of a healthy and varied diets to prepare meals in Key Stage 1. To then apply and understand their knowledge of healthy and varied diets in Key Stage 2, creating predominantly savoury dishes using a range of cooking techniques. Understanding the seasonality and sources of their chosen dishes, and where their ingredients come from.

Impact

Teaching and Learning

Victoria Dock Primary uses a variety of different teaching styles that cater for all needs, including the interests of the children themselves. The aim of these sessions are to develop the children’s knowledge, skills and understanding of Design and Technology. Through the use of whole-class teaching and individual/group activities the children are able to demonstrate their skills and learn different approaches to plan, develop and create products. The children also have the opportunity to evaluate their own and others work, to adapt where necessary and discuss ideas with one another. Using the KAPOW scheme of work allows teachers to follow a natural progression of learning, focusing upon a specific topic/area of learning, which can can also be adapted in some cases to suit the chosen topic of that term if chosen to do so. It is widely adaptable and seeks to pinpoint the children’s own interests at the forefront of all sessions.

Assessment

Children will be assessed through practical opportunities within class, and during whole school projects. Evaluations will be made, relating to the children’s own creations, allowing an assessment to be carried out regarding the design process and outcomes. Discussions with the children and displayed work on show throughout school will also be assessed.

Planning and Resources

Design and Technology is a Foundation subject in the National Curriculum, it is planned in three phases long-term; medium-term; and short-term plans. These plans cover all the units over the entire year, ensuring that all elements are carried out. All children are taken into account within all sessions, basing sessions upon ability and the interests of the children themselves. A range of resources will be used throughout the teaching of Design and Technology, as well as various different pieces of equipment. The children will be able to thoroughly explore, use and learn through the use of these resources/pieces of equipment. KAPOW provides a block of sessions suited to each strand over the course of each year group. The sessions will be carried out in blocks, as chosen and detailed by the class teachers themselves to suit around specific topics/chosen periods of the year, and a set of sessions will be followed to allow for a natural progression of learning/skills within those blocks.

Health and Safety

Health and safety is at the forefront of all Design and Technology teaching. All appropriate risk assessments will be adhered to throughout the course of DT teaching and kept up to date, and will be carefully managed and supported by other members of staff to ensure for a safe working environment for both students and teachers.

Early Years Foundation Stage

Opportunities for children within the Early Years Foundation Stage will be provided with experiences to explore and challenge themselves within Design and Technology, that correlates to the specific curriculum. A focus upon Fine Motor Skills will be evident within this area, allowing children to develop their skills to aid in developing the correct pencil grip for writing and painting etc. Opportunities for the children to design, create and evaluate their creations throughout provision will be consistently provided. The Early Years Foundation Stage will also be included within all whole school projects, events and competitions where appropriate.

Key Stage 1 and 2

Lessons are planned to allow all children to explore and challenge themselves continuously throughout Design and Technology sessions. Opportunities for the children to learn how to use and select appropriate materials and tools to create their model will be carried out. The children will learn to design and create purposeful and functional products, which will then lead into them learning to explore and evaluate their design and product. The children will learn to communicate their ideas, based from a design criterion, through discussion, writing, drawing and practical work.

Equal Opportunities

The whole school policy regarding Equal Opportunities will be adhered by, within all Design and Technology lessons. All children will be included within all sessions, with appropriate differentiation opportunities available to cater to all. Teachers will provide opportunities to all children to challenge and express themselves through Design and Technology experiences, challenging stereotypes throughout.

Inclusion

Teachers recognise that all children have different capabilities, which is catered for within all Design and Technology sessions, with teachers providing appropriate differentiated tasks/lessons to cater for all children of all capabilities. Use of different resources, ways of representing/detailing tasks and managing expectations within sessions will all be taken into account. Alongside many other other aspects during daily classroom based observations.

Role of the Subject Leader

The Design and Technology subject leader’s role is to manage and oversee the teaching and learning of this particular subject across the whole school. Ensuring the standard is kept to a high standard and provides equal opportunities to all children and meet the intended outcomes set out. They will also be in charge of ensuring appropriate materials are available and maintained, to ensure teachers have the resources to provide high quality teaching in this particular subject area.

Parents

As a school we highly encourage the involvement of parents and carers to support and assist during whole school events and Design and Technology projects. Information regarding ways in which parents can help throughout the year will be passed on.

Further information

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