Design and Technology
We are researchers, designers, makers and reviewers!
Design and Technology at Bickershaw Church of England Primary School
Design and Technology encourages children to learn to think and intervene creatively to solve problems both as individuals and as members of a team. They are taught to look for opportunities and to respond to them by developing a range of ideas and making a range of products. The children are also given opportunities to reflect upon and evaluate past and present design technology, its uses and its effectiveness and are encouraged to become innovators.
The children are taught through the cyclonic approach:
Research – Mock up – Design – Make – Evaluate
When the children encounter a problem, they are encouraged to go back to the start of the process, making the necessary changes as they progress.
Where possible, learning experiences are based upon ‘real life’ so that the children can really understand the benefit of this cyclonic approach and where it fits within the ‘real world’.
Our Design and Technology curriculum will be underpinned by the drivers of heritage, initiative and possibilities.
- Heritage Asking the children to carry out research based on past architects and engineers and how their decisions and design choices have shaped infrastructure and appliances today.
- Initiative Develop the skills to be critical and independent thinkers when choosing which pieces to take inspiration from to inform their own design and confidently make necessary changes to their design throughout the making process.
- Possibility By learning about famous designers, architects and engineers and their contribution to the world; the range of careers that require a design and technology background; inviting parents/carers in that work in a design or technology based industry to talk to the children.
All children will develop the skills and knowledge 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 v understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook.
More detailed information, regarding what is specifically taught in each year group, can be found in our 'Curriculum Endpoint' documents at https://www.bickershaw.wigan.sch.uk/virtual-office/school-curriculum-information
Raising a Design and Technology Minded Child
We want to develop a curiosity within our children so that they ask questions which will develop their own inquiry based projects: 'How can that be made better?', 'How does that work?' and 'What will happen if… ?'. These are the building blocks for the researching, designing and making process.
Fun ideas to do at home to develop Design and Technology:
- Make a marble run – Which materials work best? How can they be joined together? What can you add to make it more exciting – can you make it turn corners, spin a spinner or go up and down ramps?
- Choose a household appliance – How could it be made better? Design a new product. Who could this be aimed at? Would people be likely to buy it? What is its purpose?
- It’s not a box! Get a box which is no longer needed, what can you add to it? What is its purpose? Has it been successful? What could you do to make it better?
- Make a boat – Apply your scientific knowledge of materials and floating and sinking. How many ____ can your boat hold? How can you make sure that it is strong and waterproof, but not too heavy so that it floats?
- Make an indoor kite that glides – Which materials will you choose so that it’s lightweight? Which shapes of kite are aerodynamic? Does adding a tail make your kite more successful?
Check out the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) website for more exciting ideas of activities that can promote DT at home:
