Design Technology
Design Technology at Claverdon!
Wherever we look, evidence of design is all around us! From chairs to hospital equipment, from clothes to websites, from advertisements on the side of a bus to playground equipment, everything has been designed. Our DT curriculum aims to inspire students to think about the important and integral role which design and the creation of designed products play in our society.
Our curriculum is split into three different areas: ‘cook’, ‘sew’ and ‘build’.
Two different ‘aspects’ of design are interwoven into the three areas of study: the environment and sustainability, and enterprise and innovation. These ‘aspects’ acknowledge enduring and contemporary concerns of modern design. Each unit specifies the concepts and skills which the students are expected to learn over the course of a unit. These concepts and skills progress gradually throughout the course of the six years of study.
In ‘cook’ children learn to cook from recipes which gradually build basic culinary skills, culminating in year six with the creation of a mezze-style meal requiring the pupils to produce various small dishes. Whilst studying these practical skills they learn about concepts relating to food such as nutrition, seasonality, food production, transportation and food from different cultures.
In ‘sew’ children practise using fabric and thread to learn basic sewing techniques to create objects which demonstrate embroidery, appliqué, weaving and plaiting. Concepts such as the properties and creation of different fabrics, fast fashion, industrialisation, waste, recycling and pollution are interwoven into these activities.
In ‘build’ children learn about the creation of structures and mechanical and electrical devices to create products such as cars, moving cards, toys and books. This culminates with Year 6 learning to consider the user in real life, designing a water wall for children in Reception. Once again, the practical process of designing and creating a product is interleaved with learning about concepts which have a bearing on what the children make. These concepts, for example force, motion and the properties of materials are often connected with those encountered in the science curriculum.
Wherever possible, we strive to celebrate our finished designs with our school community!
Our Design Technology curriculum has been designed in partnership with the Primary Knowledge Curriculum (PKC).
Our Design Technology Curriculum
Design Technology Curriculum Map
Design Technology Curriculum Overview
