Design and technology
Intent
We believe it is important that primary-aged children are taught the basic elements of Design and Technology so that they can apply the knowledge and skills they learn to practical problems which are relevant to them now and in the future.
In this way, they will be better prepared to advance, develop and implement sustainable ideas in the future to respond quickly in an ever-changing world.
At Bosmere we want all children to learn through practical experiences and be able to use their creativity, imagination and social interaction skills, to design, make and evaluate their own products. They will also develop life skills and knowledge associated with healthy living, food nutrition and cookery.
We want to prepare our children to give them opportunities and experiences they need in later life.
implementation
Children are taught DT in a block each half term. This allows for the full coverage of the curriculum, developing knowledge and skills and building on prior knowledge to facilitate progress. Teachers can complete the sequence of learning more effectively in a more focused period of time, leading to a quality final product.
We have selected Kapow resources to support our curriculum delivery because it meets our intent.
Kapow covers the statutory requirements of the National curriculum, detailing the DT skills and knowledge to be taught.
Progression is broken down into the following key areas:
- Cooking and nutrition: discovering where food comes from; creating a balanced diet; following kitchen hygiene and safety; developing preparation and cooking skills; following a recipe.
- Mechanisms: using cams, followers, levers and sliders to mimic natural movements.
- Structures: learning about the properties of materials; improving a structure’s strength and stability; reinforcing structures.
- Textiles: using fabric techniques to fasten, sew and decorate.
- Electrical systems: creating electrical products using series circuits, circuit components, circuit diagrams and symbols.
- Digital world: programming products to perform tasks; developing 2D and 3D designs and models using CAD software.