Driffield Northfield Infant School

Design and Technology

We love to be designers just like Desi!

The areas of the EYFS are met through both discrete lessons as well as ongoing provision. The children access many different resources to construct with such as scissors, glue and junk modelling, alongside the construction area and outdoor activities. They access resource which teach them how to use them properly and safely. They are able to create models which develop their creativity and techniques as well as fine and gross motor skills. Children in EYFS are taught basic skills including holding equipment correctly including scissors and how to hold objects as they stick them down. Staff ensure there is a variety of resources available to them and help to develop their imaginations. Activities are  linked to the whole school topic and are used to inspire imaginations. The children also access many extra activities such as seasonal crafts and also at least one full project during the year where they think carefully about what and how they are going to make a product.  

KS1 (Years 1 and 2)

When designing and making, pupils should be taught to:

Design

• design purposeful, functional, appealing products for themselves and other users based on design criteria
• generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through talking, drawing, templates, mock-ups and, where appropriate, information and communication technology

Make

• select from and use a range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks [for example, cutting, shaping, joining and finishing]
• select from and use a wide range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their characteristics

Evaluate

• explore and evaluate a range of existing products
• evaluate their ideas and products against design criteria

Technical knowledge

• build structures, exploring how they can be made stronger, stiffer and more stable
• explore and use mechanisms [for example, levers, sliders, wheels and axles] in their products

At Driffield Northfield Infant School Key Stage 1 children continue their Design and Technology  journey through discrete lessons and also ongoing provision within the year 1 areas. They have access to a workshop area which has a variety of resources such as scissors,, glue, paper, card and junk modelling and are given challenges to step up the ongoing provision from Foundation. Children in year one and two are taught about the process of designing and making a product and develop these in stages across a number of lessons. To avoid repetition the staff will ensure these products are made in different terms, year 1 complete theirs in Spring and Year 2 complete theirs in Summer. There is a wide variety to ensure interest and excitement. Children produce work for their own work using the research, design, make and evaluate process and also whole school displays. Work is linked to the topics and children are able to discuss what they are doing, what they are using and as they progress towards the end of year 1 and start year 2, they develop the ability to discuss their product and evaluate it. Work including seasonal crafts, sculpture in Gardening and Outdoor learning and also baking at the end of year 1 also provides coverage of the Design and Technology curriculum. There is a Lego club for year 2 children to access where they follow instructions to make different products as well as community activities such as designing a corgi and a Nativity display model for the Methodist church which all children in school take part in. 

Desi the Designer DT club had great fun creating their moving animal toys and aprons.

For the moving toys, they used paper cups as the body and then followed their designs to bring their toy to life.To make the toy move they used wheels and had to add an axle so the wheels could turn.They used a saw to cut the wood and followed instructions to make sure they were safe.

For the aprons the children looked at different designs as part of their research and ensured their designs were safe to use when wearing them for cooking. They thought about where a pocket would need to go, what colours and materials they wanted to use. They were all really careful and followed their designs well, understanding they could change and adapt different elements of it if they wanted or needed too to make their design work.  

They were all really pleased with their final products. Well done everyone. 

Year 1 sock puppets.