Design & Technology
Big Picture - Talk like a Designer and Creator (D&T)
Understand how things work, exploring and testing tools and techniques. Inventing new creations by planning ahead to create designs, using a range of tools. Solving problems through evaluating, adapting and improving ideas – developing resilience by self or in a team. We explore where food comes from, cooking and tasting food that we have made.
At St Stephen’s Infants School, we believe that Design and Technology should be an inspiring, creative and practical subject where imagination and independent learning is encouraged and nurtured. Children are provided with opportunities to use their knowledge of Cooking and Nutrition, Textiles (and materials), Construction, Mechanisms and Computing. In all areas of Design and Technology, children are taught the knowledge, understanding and skills needed in the process of designing and making. They select and use a range of tools and equipment safely and effectively. Children are encouraged to evaluate the effectiveness of their designs and requirements of the product.
The key aspects for Design and Technology are;
- Designing, developing, planning and communicating ideas.
- Mastering practical skills to work with tools, equipment, materials and components when making a product.
- Evaluating processes and products to make improvements.
Pupils draw, paint and build, using a range of materials, tools and techniques, experimenting with colour, design, texture, form and function. Pupils share their creations, explaining the process they have used.
Pupils design purposeful, functional products for themselves and others based on the design criteria. They develop their design through drawings, models and communicating their ideas through talk. Pupils make their designs safely using a range of tools and equipment developing the practical tasks of cutting, shaping, joining and finishing. Pupils select and use a wide range of materials and components. Pupils evaluate a range of existing products. Pupils evaluate their ideas and products. Pupils develop their technical knowledge through building structures, exploring how they can make stronger, stable structures. Pupils explore mechanisms using levers, sliders, wheels and axles when making products. Pupils develop their cooking and understanding of nutrition by exploring the principles of a healthy and varied diet to prepare food. Pupils understand where food comes from.
Below are the SSIS progression of skills documents for Design & Technology.