Design and Technology

In Year 2
Year 2 have had an exciting half term in Design and Technology, linking their learning to the story The Lighthouse Keeper’s Lunch. They explored the importance of healthy eating and took part in a food tasting session, trying a variety of ingredients such as falafel, tuna, hummus, sweetcorn, lettuce, jam, pitta, wraps, brown bread and even more! Using this experience, the children designed and made their own sandwiches, carefully selecting ingredients to create a balanced meal. They also evaluated their finished products, rating the taste and appearance out of 5 stars and then deciding how they could improve their designs in the future.

In Year 3

In Year 3 we have been exploring how to make pop-up cards. We examined a pop-up book to see how the pictures popped out and then made some levers and linkages. We identified the levers, fixed and loose pivots. Following on from this the children made pop-up Mother's Day cards.

In Year 4

In our Design Technology unit, we explored the concept of dips and what makes them appealing and successful food products. We began by learning what a dip is and carried out a sensory evaluation through structured taste testing. We sampled a range of popular dips, including hummus, salsa, guacamole, and garlic dip, carefully analysing their appearance, smell, flavour, and texture. Using this knowledge, we created our own guided designs for a chosen dip, clearly identifying the purpose, ingredients, and method. We then applied safe and hygienic food preparation skills to make our own guacamole and salsa. Finally, we taste tested our finished products and completed a detailed evaluation, reflecting on the strengths of our dip and any improvements we could make in the future.

In Year 5

Children in Year 5 have been studying Frame Structures this term. Children have investigated and made annotated drawings of a range of portable and permanent frame structures. They have used photographs and web-based research to extend their knowledge. Children have also been studying various joining techniques of frame structures. Later in the term, children will be designing their own small-scale frame structures. They will think about who will use their frame structure and its intended purpose.

In Reception

This term, our Reception children became bus designers, creating and painting their own models complete with windows, lights, stickers and route numbers. They imagined exciting journeys for their buses and worked together to produce a large class map, linking their ideas to real and familiar places. This project supported the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) by developing skills in Expressive Arts and Design, Communication and Language, Understanding the World, Mathematics and Physical Development, while encouraging creativity, collaboration and confidence

In Year 1

In Year 3

In our Year 3 DT project, the children explored a range of everyday packaging to understand its purpose and design. They investigated different materials and discussed which would be most suitable depending on what the packaging needed to hold or protect. Using this knowledge, the children designed their own packaging, carefully thinking about shape, strength and appearance. They then made their designs using a variety of materials and construction techniques. Finally, the children evaluated their finished packaging, reflecting on what worked well and how their designs could be improved, developing both their practical skills and their understanding of effective product design.

In Year 1

In Reception

In our Reception DT project, the children explored different ways of joining materials to design and make their very own front doors. They experimented with methods such as gluing, taping, stapling and using paper fasteners to attach different parts together securely. Once they had created and decorated their doors, the children added special details like numbers and letterboxes to make each one unique. Finally, they attached their finished doors to a photograph of themselves standing on their doorstep, creating a lovely display that celebrated both their creativity and developing construction skills.

In Year 2

In Year 2 for our Design and Technology projects we have been creating new mode of transport for Winnie the Witch. As part of the design process, the children learned about wheels and axles, exploring a range of toy vehicles to see how they move and what makes them work effectively. They then used this knowledge to design their own imaginative modes of transport for Winnie.

The children worked brilliantly together, sharing ideas, listening to one another, and showing wonderful creativity and problem-solving skills throughout the activity. Once their models were complete, they evaluated their final products against their original designs, considering whether they were fit for purpose and how they might improve them next time.

In Nursery
Today in Nursery we read This is Our House by Michael Rosen. Afterwards, we worked in small groups to design and build our very own cardboard box houses, just like in the story.

Throughout the activity, the children shared resources, listened carefully to one another, and considered their friends’ ideas. They explored simple joining techniques and demonstrated great teamwork and creativity.

It was fascinating to see the different approaches each group took. One group was very focused on the structural elements of their house, ensuring it was strong and stable. Another group concentrated on colour and decoration, while a third group paid close attention to the interior design of their kitchen. One group explored the kinds of gadgets found in our homes, and the final group took a very realistic approach to their design.

By the end of the afternoon, we had created our very own cardboard street - a wonderful celebration of imagination, collaboration, and design!

Find the road map for Design and Technology for the children here at St George's.

Design and Technology Road Map

Our vision is to provide an excellent, well-rounded education which celebrates academic, emotional and spiritual achievement and prepares everyone to fulfil their full potential in an inclusive environment in God’s World.

“You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have." Maya Angelou

As stated in the National Curriculum Purpose of Study for Design and Technology, “Design and technology is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject. Using creativity and imagination, pupils design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. They acquire a broad range of subject knowledge and draw on disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art. Pupils learn how to take risks, becoming resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens. Through the evaluation of past and present design and technology, they develop a critical understanding of its impact on daily life and the wider world. High-quality design and technology education makes an essential contribution to the creativity, culture, wealth and well-being of the nation.”

At St George’s, our Design and Technology curriculum is underpinned by the above statement and we believe that design and technology is an essential part of children’s development throughout the school, from our youngest children in Nursery, through to the young adults we hand over to the next phase of their lifelong journey. The following aims are embedded within our teaching and are central to the engaging lessons where our children encounter a range of opportunities to explore design and technology.

We aim for all pupils to:

• develop the creative, technical and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world

• build and apply a repertoire of knowledge, understanding and skills in order to design and make high-quality prototypes and products for a wide range of users • critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products and the work of others

• understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook

At St George’s, our intent is to provide a high quality Design and Technology education, which enables children to develop their creativity, imagination, and their critical thinking in the rapidly changing technological world around them. We encourage them to learn to think and intervene creatively to solve problems, both as individuals and as members of a team. We want children to use their creativity and imagination, to design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. We aim to, wherever possible, link work to other subjects such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art. Through the study of design and technology children combine practical skills including food technology with an understanding of aesthetic, social and environmental issues, in order to design, make and evaluate a product.

We promote an ‘I can do’ philosophy in which we aim to develop ‘growth mindset’ attitudes. Children are provided with a challenging curriculum to build their resilience and promote creativity; they are reminded that it is acceptable to get the wrong answers and even experience difficulties when faced with challenges and anything new or unfamiliar. Teachers use these experiences to address mistakes, enabling them to build resilience in a safe environment. in which all children are able to flourish. This also includes our SEND children who have their needs scaffolded in order for them to access challenging Design and Technology activities.

Baking Scones in Y5

 Year 5 have really enjoyed baking scones as part of their DT work. They tasted a variety of scones and agreed that the ones they made were the best!