Design Technology

Design & technology provides children the opportunity to use their creativity and imagination to design and make a product. It encourages children to become independent, creative problem-solvers and think as individuals and as part of a team. 

 

At Ladbrooke JMI School we believe that all children should engage at a practical level in DT.  Children will gain experiences of using a variety of tools and techniques. They will design and ten evaluate their own projects and look at the effectiveness of the project. They will understand and apply the principles of nutrition, food hygiene and health and safety. Using creativity and imagination, children design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts. Children should learn how to take risks, become resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens. They will understand the impact of design and technology on daily life and a wider world.  

Scissor control
Using tools safely and competently is an essential foundation for DT.
Making Gruffalo crumble
Exploring DT through hands-on cooking helps build skills, independence and confidence.
DT through imaginative play
Designing, experimenting and creating in the mud kitchen.
Making our own see-saw
Problem-solving is an essential skill in early years DT.
Developing early design and technology skills
Exploring tools, techniques, and materials to build precision, control, and creativity.
Collaborative construction
Working together to build and balance - DT in action.

Through the study of design & technology, children combine practical skills with an understanding of aesthetic, social and environmental issues, as well as functions and industrial practices. This allows them to reflect on and evaluate present and past design & technology assessing its use and impact on the world. Design & technology helps all children to become astute and informed future consumers and potential innovators.

 

Troll crossing the bridge
Year 1 made a slider from the story of the three billy goats gruff.
Fruit kebab
Year 1 made delicious fruit kebabs, using skills like chopping, slicing and pattern making.
Jack and the beanstalk
We made a lever so that Jack could get up the beanstalk.

As a school we looked at all the skills children need to learn and match the skills to each year group. The children then have the opportunity to build on their previous knowledge. The skills are identified and where possible are linked to topics in other curriculum areas.

 

Teachers use HEPPDT resources to plan their Design Technology projects. These are linked closely to Geography and History units of work taught in class. The projects are then taught across a week so the children are able to quickly build on their skills. 

 

Creating a Viking Long Boat
Year 5 used sawing skills to make a frame
In order to make the frame as accurate as possible, the edges had to be filed down
Then the wood was combined with wood glue to create the frame for their Viking boat.

 

 

 

 

 

DT Curriculum Links

D.T. Pupil Quotes

“We made a house for the dog. Oh no there’s a storm; the house is broken we need to build a big and strong house.”

Nursery child

“I made house for the insects. I put this on the table (points to plastic) I found this (points to box), I need some this (points to tape), I put over here (points to his model). I make door.”

Reception child

“It was fun making the Gingerbread Man and Jack and the Beanstalk. Gingerbread Man was the slider, and Jack was the puller-upper.”

Year 1 child

On making moving pictures with sliders “On the gingerbread man, what I did was get a blue stick and I stuck the dog on. Then I cut the paper then after that what I did was stick the little dog and I sticked it through the paper which was cut, and we got to slide it to eat the gingerbread man. It was so much fun!

Year 1 child

I made a cool bird house in year 1 and I had to do some cutting and sawing. I had to be careful not to cut my fingers. I had to put seeds in it so the hungry birds would come. In year 1 I was scared to use a glue gun and drill but now I am not.

Year 2 child

We did some taste testing and I loved trying new yummy foods.  I got to use a knife to cut up fruit to make our colourful fruit kebabs.

Year 2 child

I loved using clay. It made my hands very messy. I had to do moulding and stretching. At first it was quite hard but then I became quite good at it. I made an owl and it was great!

Year 2 child

“I really liked sawing the wood to make the frame for the Viking longboat. I found it difficult, but I managed to push through.”

Year 5 child

“I liked glueing the frame of the boat together. It was difficult as the parts kept off but I got there in the end.”

Year 5 child

“I found cutting the cardboard templates for the side of the boat tricky as the cardboard was very stiff but I managed to do it.”

Year 5 child

DT is fun!

Year 5 DT child

“We used a mechanism to create a moving toy, it was a great DT project; I really enjoyed it.”

Year 6 child

“I have learned that a cam is a mechanism that turns around and creates movement. I have always wondered about how toys move.”

Year 6 child

“I remembered doing something similar in year 3 but we were supervised, in year 6 it is more independent work and we could choose the cam for the movement we wanted.”

Year 6 child

“I liked using the saws, we used a bench hook to be safe. Once you make an engraving, you can saw right through.”

Year 6 child

“We followed step by step plans to create our moving toy but then finished them ourselves creatively. I like how mine looked at the end.”

Year 6 child