Design Technology is important because of it is significance within the National Curriculum, not only as an individual subject but also when linked to other core and foundation subjects. The fundamental skills, knowledge and concepts of the subject are set out in “Design Technology in the National Curriculum” where levels of attainment are set out in order to moderate the children’s knowledge and skill development. There are six areas that the National Curriculum requires to be covered between and including Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 3, the areas are: -
1.Developing, planning and communicating ideas.
2.Working with tools, equipment, materials and components to produce quality products.
3.Evaluating processes and products.
4.Knowledge and understanding of materials and components.
5.Knowledge and understanding of systems and control.
6.Knowledge and understanding of structures.
The attainment targets are further described in the Common Entrance and Scholarship Syllabus for the main senior schools that we feed.
Topics used to teach the skills and knowledge are listed for each year group in appendix A (but they are subject to change dependent on cross-curricular links).
Project List
Practical Control Technology ~ Group of ¾ Structures & ICT ~ Individual/group
King’s Challenge
Free project ~ based on the GCSE format ~ Individual
Critique ~ Individual & not time-tabled, one positive, one negative.
Work displayed for the Year 8 ‘leavers’ exhibition.
Furniture Restoration ~ ‘Lovejoy’ ~ Groups of ¾
Theory Coursework format
Practical Metal work ~ Structures ~ Individual
Pneumatics ~ Mechanisms~ Individual/group
Flat Pack furniture ~ Design (individual), Make (group)
Structures/Materials ~ Individual/Group
Theory Graphics ~ isometric, third angle & exploded
Materials – Metals, Manufactured boards
Mechanisms – Levers & Pivots, Pneumatics
Practical Bassett Buggies ~ Design (individual), Make (group) Structures
Castle Acre Priory (scale model) ~ in conjunction with the class.
Structures Small groups (selected)
Moving toys (cams & cranks) ~ Mechanisms ~ Individual
Electronic steady hand game ~ Individual
Theory Graphics ~ isometric and third angle
Mechanisms – Levers & Pivots, Cams, Cranks
Materials – Woods, Plastics, Reforming materials.
Electronics
Practical Electric torch ~ Individual
Book Ends ~ Individual
Control Technology (flat pack) ~ Individual
Cogs & Gears ~ Mechanisms ~ Individual/group
Theory Graphics ~ isometric and third angle
Mechanisms – Cogs & Gears
Materials – Woods (joints), Plastics, Reforming materials.
Electronics
Practical Clothes Peg Animals ~ Individual
Glove puppets ~ Textiles ~ Individual
Theory Health & Safety
Tools
Materials ~ Woods, Textiles
Structures
Practical Wooden Hand Maze ~ Individual
Moving Toy (levers & linkages) ~ Mechanisms ~ Individual
Buggy ~ Structures ~ Group 2 (my choice)
Theory Health & Safety
Tools
Materials ~ Woods, Plastics
Mechanisms – Levers & Pivots
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