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Design and Technology (DT)

Design Technology

Our Design and Technology curriculum involves two important elements – learning about the designed and made world and how things work, and learning to design and make functional products for particular purposes and users.

Children acquire and apply knowledge and understanding of materials and components, mechanisms and control systems, structures, existing products, quality and health and safety (substantive knowledge). Design and Technology education helps develop children’s skills (disciplinary knowledge) through collaborative working and problem-solving, and knowledge in design, materials, structures, mechanisms and electrical control. They are encouraged to be creative and innovative, and are actively encouraged to think about important issues such as sustainability and enterprise.

There are three core activities children engage with in Design and Technology:

  • Activities which involve investigating and evaluating existing products
  • Focused tasks in which children develop particular aspects of knowledge and skills
  • Designing and making activities in which children design and make ‘something’ for ‘somebody’ for ‘some purpose’

These three activities are combined in sequence to create a Design and Technology project.

The ‘Big Ideas’ or ‘golden threads’ for design technology are:

  • mechanics
  • structures
  • textiles
  • food

Class One – The children’s first project was to design and make a shelter, below are some pictures of the progress of their design.