Design and Technology (DT)

At Telferscot the DT curriculum is an opportunity for children to develop a range of practical and design skills to give them the confidence to create imaginative products using a wide range of media. Well taught DT provides children with practical skills that help them to be happy and active members of the larger community. By the time a child leaves Telferscot they should be confident to design, make and evaluate lots of different products using a variety of different materials; children will also have a range of technical skills that will allow them to interact with the world around them as makers and engineers.

How DT is taught at Telferscot

DT is taught in 3 separate blocks over the course of the year, an overview of what each of these blocks provide is outlined below.

Shape of a DT block

Design Brief - Each DT block should be delivered in a way that allows children to create a practical and working product based around the design brief. As such it is key that the first step in any block involves revealing this design brief.
Evaluation - Each block must offer the opportunity for children to evaluate example products or their own. Evaluation skills can be taught at the beginning, at the end, or in the middle of a topic depending on how it fits within the flow of teaching. (Children should be given the opportunity to evaluate their own product and existing products at least once each year).
Design - Children must spend time on their design process creating diagrams and instructions to help them understand their process. This process can be modelled and supported by adults but the children should be given the opportunity to think creatively about what they are making.
Make - Children must be given ample time to construct and revise their product.
Share - All children should be given time to use, share and enjoy their finished product as part of the making process (this could take the form of gallery, exhibition, performance or video).

What our children design and produce in DT

	Autumn 2 Instruments – in this block children work with different materials to create instruments from across the globe. Each year group focuses on different materials and skills and design a working product.	Spring 1 History – In this block children develop design ideas around the topic they are learning about in history.	Summer 2 Nutrition – This block offers children access to cooking and nutrition activities to promote a healthy lifestyle and develop these key life skills.
EYFS
Nursery	Rice shakers - Mixed media. In Nursery children learn how to make simple shakers and how using different materials can make different sounds.	In this term, Nursery children focus on junk modelling to develop their fundamental building skills.	In EYFS children will learn simple preparation techniques as part of developing their fine motor skills. Children also learn many of the fundamentals of growing food through our forest school provision.
Reception	Pellet drums – Mixed media. In Reception children make pellet drums learning to combine different materials including string using different techniques.	Transport - Reception explore and compare different transport and use junk modelling to express their findings.
KS1
Year 1	Titorea sticks – Wood. Children design and make these traditional Maori instruments and use tools to shape and prepare wood.	Victorian train carriages – Card Children learn about the basic structures of transport vehicles to create their own with working axle and wheels.	Super smoothies – Children learn how to combine fruit and vegetables to make simple, healthy and tasty smoothies.
Year 2	Zithers – Mixed media. In year 2, children learn to use the structure of a box to capture and enhance sound vibrations.	Medieval houses – Card Children will create medieval houses and learn about the structural strengths (and weakness) of these types of buildings.	That’s a wrap – Children consider ingredient choices and combine food types to create a healthy wrap.
KS2
Year 3	Rain sticks – Mixed media. Building on previous knowledge children will make complex instruments that produce different sounds for a sustained period.	Viking Long-ships – Card Children will learn how to shape and structure a sturdy design in the style of these great ship builders.	Biscuit bakers – Children learn the importance of measuring and combining ingredients to bake a biscuit snack.
Year 4	Guiros – Clay. In year 4 children learn the fundamentals of working with clay and produce percussive Guiros in the shape of frogs (and other animals).	Roman Aqueducts – Clay Children will use their new clay skills to create structurally sound aqueducts following classic roman designs.	A savoury pastry – Children combine their knowledge of healthy foods to fill and bake a pastry.
Year 5	Shekeres – Weaving and threading. To create working Shekeres year 5 are required to design and create a complex net of string and beads around an acoustic centre.	Egyptian temples – Paper Children use their knowledge of creating sturdy structures to create with this delicate but adaptable medium.	A traditional meal – Children draw on the variety of food in the local area to create a main course.
Year 6	Cajonitas – Wood and metal. In year 6 children bring together a broad range of skills to produce wooden drums. Children adapt malleable metals, saw wood and learn techniques to correctly measure and combine.	WW2 aircraft – Modroc Children in year 6 design and create light and durable planes based on those used in WW2.	Cooking a feast - Children combine their cooking and preparation skills to design and make a 3-course meal.

How we enhance our children's experience of DT at Telferscot

Children get many experiences to explore the world that surrounds us through the lens of DT. Many children go on trips relating to joint history and DT topics, e.g. the trips to RAF Hendon to study the design of planes.

STEAM Week – As part of the broader subject children develop their design and make skills when given a creative brief. Children really enjoy the opportunity to bring their skills and ideas to this annual whole school challenge.