Design Technology

The teaching of Design and Technology at Elmwood follows the guidance in the EYFS Development matters document and  National Curriculum and the subjects are taught through a variety of creative and practical activities. Through half termly units children are taught the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to engage in the process of designing and making.  Thorough planning ensures we implement a curriculum that is progressive through the whole school. Links are made with    other subjects and the teaching of Design and Technology draws upon subject knowledge and skills within maths, science,  history and art. For example, children in Year 1 make fruits salads when learning about keeping healthy. Design Technology at Elmwood promotes the use of our Super Skills, in particular children are encouraged to be creative, independent, confident, organised, reflective and to show perseverance. Knowledge organisers are used to support children in understanding and using the key knowledge and language introduced in a topic.

In the Early Years, the children develop essential basic skills in Design and Technology through, ‘Exploring using Media and  Materials’ and ‘Being Imaginative’, which involves plenty of explorative and informal play through practical, first hand experiences.  At Elmwood we give the children opportunities to explore, be inquisitive and learn about the properties of        materials and how to use them to express their ideas. Children’s work is celebrated and displayed alongside quotes of the pupil’s thoughts about their own and other’s learning. Our outdoor focus is on exploration of materials and how children interpret these in imaginative ways.

Children explore and use a variety of materials through a combination of child initiated and adult planned activities.  Creative opportunities are linked with all the areas of learning as well as the Characteristic of Learning.

By the end of Early Years, it is expected that the children will be able to:

• Construct with a purpose in mind
• Use simple tools and techniques competently and appropriately
• Use different media and materials to express their ideas
• Build and construct with a wide range of objects, selecting appropriate resources and adapting their work when necessary
• Select tools and techniques they need to shape, assemble and join materials they are using.

In KS1 Design and Technology will involve the children designing, making, technical knowledge and evaluating. Children are taught in half termly units which allow children to investigate, design, make and evaluate a DT project. This project may be completed through a series of  lessons or DT mornings.

Technical Knowledge

Children engage in activities and investigations which allow them to practise the technical knowledge or skill that they will be required to use when making their product.

Design

Children will draw/sketch their design and add key information which might include the features they have included, the materials and equipment need and the technical skills they need to use in making the product. Children use a design sheet or    booklet to record this information, which is used and added to during the design process.

Make

Children select the tools, resources, materials and equipment needed to make their product.

Evaluating

Children evaluate the effectiveness of their ideas and products against their design criteria and record their thoughts individually on their design sheet or booklet.

Cooking and nutrition is implemented across the school with children developing an understanding of where food comes from, to identify healthy food and make healthy choices, the importance of a varied and healthy diet and how to prepare this.