DESIGN TECHNOLOGY
At Salterhebble, Design Technology is an inspiring and practical subject. It encourages children to learn to think and work creatively to solve problems, both as individuals and working as a group. We encourage 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.
Substantive knowledge in design and technology is based on the knowledge of four key elements of the process of design (design, make, evaluate and technical knowledge). All of these elements will be taught throughout school and vocabulary is taught explicitly and will be deliberately practised and applied through the 4 key elements. These are:
Design - know how to design a product that is purposeful, functional and appealing to a specific group.
Make - know how to cut, join, and finish a range of increasingly complex materials.
Evaluate - know how to investigate, evaluate and analyse a range of existing products and their own designs based on a specific design criteria. In addition to this, children will know key individuals have helped to shape the world in which we live.
Technical Knowledge - know how to apply their knowledge of specific materials to meet the criteria listed in the design, make and evaluate stages.
Disciplinary knowledge in design and technology is the process of enabling children to use their substantive knowledge of products and materials around them to make links between and across different areas of the curriculum. Knowledge in design and technology will equip the children with the opportunity to explain how and why products have changed over time and how they might be further improved in the future. They can use their knowledge and understanding to suggest how existing products may be improved with the advances in modern technology.
Cultural Capital
The opportunity to saw, cut, mould, join, etc. is something that many children are unable to access at home. By ensuring we have both the tools and the opportunity at school, all our children can learn these practical life skills from an early age. Pupils also have the opportunity to cook and prepare food, again something we consider to be essential knowledge.
End Points
By the end of KS1 when designing and making, children will be able 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.
By the end of KS1 in Cooking and Nutrition, children will be able to:
- use the basic principles of a healthy and varied diet to prepare dishes
- understand where food comes from.
By the end of KS2 when designing and making, children will be able to:
Design
- use research and develop design criteria to inform the design of innovative, functional, appealing products that are fit for purpose, aimed at particular individuals or groups
- generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through discussion, annotated sketches, cross-sectional and exploded diagrams, prototypes, pattern pieces and computer-aided design
Make
- select from and use a wider range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks [for example, cutting, shaping, joining and finishing], accurately
- select from and use a wider range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their functional properties and aesthetic qualities
Evaluate
- investigate and analyse a range of existing products
- evaluate their ideas and products against their own design criteria and consider the views of others to improve their work
- understand how key events and individuals in design and technology have helped shape the world
Technical knowledge
- apply their understanding of how to strengthen, stiffen and reinforce more complex structures
- understand and use mechanical systems in their products [for example, gears, pulleys, cams, levers and linkages]
- understand and use electrical systems in their products [for example, series circuits incorporating switches, bulbs, buzzers and motors]
- apply their understanding of computing to program, monitor and control their products.
By the end of KS2 in Cooking and Nutrition, children will be able to:
- understand and apply the principles of a healthy and varied diet
- prepare and cook a variety of predominantly savoury dishes using a range of cooking techniques
- understand seasonality, and know where and how a variety of ingredients are grown, reared, caught and processed.
