At Hulme, in Key Stage 1, our Design and Technology curriculum allows children to learn about the design of various objects and items. The children are taught about how some things are made and taught how to fix, assemble and attach.
Design and Technology is taught alongside other subjects, incorporating skills to plan, construct and evaluate. For example, when learning about ‘The Great Fire of London’ children are provided with the opportunity to create their own Tudor houses and fire engines. Throughout the DT sessions, children are encouraged to think critically about the materials they use and the best ways in which to attach various parts.
In Key Stage 2, the children develop a variety of Design and Technology skills. In Years 3 and 4, pupils learn about mechanical systems, exploring pneumatic systems, linkages, pivots and levers and investigating kinetic movement. Pupils learn about weaving using paper and fabrics. In Years 5 and 6, the pupils experiment with a variety of paper engineering techniques whilst working on a design brief. Pupils in Year 6 investigate the creative possibilities of cam mechanisms, developing an automata toy. Pupils are encouraged to develop resilience, exploring solutions to problems, from design to realisation, refining and evaluating work as an ongoing process.