Design & Technology

What do we do in Design & Technology?

Design & Technology is an important subject for our children at Binsted as it encourages them to become autonomous and creative problem-solvers, both as individuals and as part of a team.  We give them a task e.g. to make a bag for Teddy to take his food to the picnic (Robins), make healthy soup (Kooks) or make a solar powered vehicle (Eagles) and then it is up to the individual or group to decide on a design and the materials to use, practice the necessary skills, which can involve cutting, joining materials, circuit and switch work, safely and finally to make a finished product.  It enables them to identify needs and opportunities and to respond by developing and changing their ideas until they have the desired finished product.  It always entails a great deal of talking and negotiating, acceptance of the ideas of others, and with that, the realisation that you are not always top dog, which can be a hard lesson to learn! 

The task is usually introduced with examples of products which are produced commercially and this gives the children an understanding of aesthetic, social and environmental issues, as well as functions and industrial practices. There is also an opportunity to reflect on and evaluate present and past design and technology, its uses and its impacts.

We try as much as possible to make cross curricula links within our DT topics by e.g. linking literacy, science and art when Yr 2 make their lighthouses. The Lighthouse Keepers Lunch is the starting point (literacy), making a circuit for the light and using other sources (pictures) for creating the greedy seagulls, and cams in Yr 4,5,6 links maths and forces.

We have entered the County solar powered creation where teams use solar power to create something that moves.  We made a buggy, but other teams made a watermill and a big wheel as well as numerous types of vehicles.  This not only gave the children an opportunity to design and make a product but to present to the rest of the class how it was made, what made it successful and why it should be chosen to go to the competition.  The group that went to the competition had to present to the judges and then be willing to answer any questions.  This was a wonderful opportunity and although the team did not gain any prizes, they felt that it was a very worthwhile exercise.