Wicor Primary School - Design and Technology

dt-website-page.docx.pdf

As part of science and DT, the Year 5 children made their own version of the game Operation. To do this, they first deconstructed the original game, learnt about how it worked and experimented with electrical circuits. They then designed their own game in that style. The DT processes of evaluating existing products, skills lessons focusing on electrical circuits, establishing a design criteria, generating ideas for a design, planning the making, making the product and then evaluating was followed.

All the games worked and were enjoyed by the children.

Y5 Operation Game

Wax Wraps Work

The Year 4 children decided to integrate their environmental learning and DT by making wax wraps to sell at the EcoFayre. It had been decided that the wrapping of sandwiches in school was not as environmentally friendly as it could have been, and these wraps would help the situation. After surveying adults and children with some wax wrap covers, a design criteria was drawn up. Each child then generated ideas for their designs, chose the one they felt would reflect the criteria and planned the making. After the wax wrap and the covers were made, the wraps were evaluated. However, the biggest test was selling them to the public and we are proud to say that all 70 wraps were sold. They were so popular, that they now made through the year and sold in our shop on the main drive: The Trug.

Year 6 delved into the history of the pencil case before they made their own as a DT project. They learnt about the first pencil case patent, and how writing implements were stored before this too. A timeline of the advances made in pencil cases was drawn up.

Different designs of pencil case were evaluated and discussions on materials were had and the suitability of some materials over others. It was decided that material needed to be hard wearing and easy to wash. It was important to us all to reuse material so some children brought in old clothing or bedding that was of a suitable material. Others used material from the local scrap store, where buttons were also purchased.

Once children had decided on their design, they measured the implements to go into their pencil cases and checked the design criteria of size and capacity; material and durability; portability and convenience; protection, and design and style (aesthetics).

Once the pencil case had been designed, the children set about cutting out and learning to use a sewing machine. This proved quite a skill and inspired some of our children to dig out their parents sewing machines or ask for one for Christmas. Buttons were then sewn on too.

The last part of the design process was to evaluate the pencil cases and we were all very pleased with them.

The biggest test has been that they are used in class every day. So far, they are holding up well and proving to be really useful in the classroom.

Please see the Computing page for links with 3D printing of pencil pots.

Computing

Houses YR

YR were studying 'Houses and Homes' and learnt not only about the different types of houses you might see around the world, but also about the homes and habitats of animals in our school grounds. They finished by listening to the story of The Three Little Pigs and they decided to make their own house investigating the best material they thought they should use. The children followed the design process; learnt about the properties of different materials; thought about the quality of material a well constructed house would need; investigated different materials; made their house and then evaluated it. The children even used Newton meters to test for weight and strength. They were, quite rightly, so proud of their houses at the end of their learning.