We want our children to SHINE as design and technologists.

Intent

Our curriculum lays the foundations for our children to be innovators. All our projects involve making functional products and equip children with knowledge of the design cycle. Our curriculum nurtures creativity and innovation, drawing relevance from the world around us.

We plan for our children to:-

• Develop the skills they need for designing and making through a range of creative and practical activities.
• Have opportunities to work in a range of relevant contexts, reflecting the real world and others’ needs, wants and values.
• Develop their ability to investigate, analyse and evaluate a range of products, applying their understanding and technical knowledge across a range of products and materials.
• Develop the skills needed to prepare and cook healthy food.
• To think and intervene creatively to solve problems both as individuals and as members of a team.
• Make links to other subjects such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art.
• Reflect and evaluate past and present design, its uses and its effectiveness.
• Be encouraged to become innovators and risk-takers.
• Consider sustainability and the protection of our World

Implementation

We have a topic curriculum in place (https://www.cookhamriseprimary.org/topics-across-the-school/) and, where possible, teach design and technology through these themes. We use the nationally well-regarded planning resources from DATA (Design and Technology association) to support learning. An example of a unit of work from here can be seen at the bottom of the page. Children engage in an iterative process of designing and making. Children are taught to:

Design

Use research and develop design criteria to inform their design of 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 diagrams, prototypes, pattern pieces and computer-aided design (CAD).

Make

Select from and use a wider range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks (cutting, shaping, joining and finishing) accurately. 

Select and use a wide range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients.

Evaluate

• Investigate and analyse a range of existing products.
• Evaluate their designs and ideas against their own design criteria and consider the views of others to improve their work.
• Understand how key events and individuals have helped shape the world of technical knowledge.
• Apply their understanding of how to strengthen, stiffen and reinforce complex structures.
• Understand and use mechanical systems in their products.
• Understand and use electrical systems in their products.
• Apply their understanding of computing to program, monitor and control their products.