At Fens, we aim to inspire children in Design and Technology through a broad range of inspiring, rigorous and practical experiences. We encourage children to use their imagination and creativity to create innovative designs to solve real and relevant problems within a variety of different contexts.
Design and Technology at Fens provides children with a real-life context for learning. Within DT, children critically evaluate existing products to enable them to create a range of structures, mechanisms, textiles, electrical systems and food products with a real-life purpose. Children are encouraged to use their imagination and creativity to design and make innovative products in a variety of contexts. We also aim to develop children’s critical thinking and meta-cognition skills through opportunities to reflect, evaluate and improve on prototypes and apply this to their own designs during the making phase. Children acquire a broad range of subject knowledge and draw on disciplines such as mathematics, science, computing and art. Pupils learn how to take risks, becoming resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens.
Design and Technology at Fens Primary School follows the design, make and evaluate model, with each stage rooted in technical knowledge and vocabulary. Children critically evaluate a range of existing products in order to influence their own designs and opportunities are provided for children to create prototypes to support the design process. Children are encouraged to select from a wide range of equipment during the making stage, explaining their choices for functional and aesthetic purposes. Critical thinking and meta-cognition skills are developed by allowing children time to evaluate and review their products during the making stage to reflect and improve upon their design.
In EYFS, key skills are taught through ‘Expressive Arts and Design’ and ‘Physical Development’, which provide children with the opportunities to:
Expressive Arts and Design
Physical Development
Design & Technology gives children the opportunity to develop skills, knowledge and understanding of designing and making functional, quality prototypes and products for a wide range of users as well as critically evaluating and testing ideas and products. They are helped to nurture creativity and innovation through design, and by exploring the designed and made world in which we all live and work. Children will also develop creative, technical and practical skills needed to confidently participate in an increasingly technological world. Through the practice of these skills, children enhance their learning across the curriculum alongside developing collaborative working techniques, problem-solving skills, critical thinking and meta-cognition skills.
Year 5
In DT this half term, Year 5 have been learning about seasonality. We started by investigating at what time of year different fruits and vegetables are in season.
Design & Technology Curriculum Map