Design and Technology enables practical problem solving, whilst drawing on subject knowledge from mathematics, science, computing and art. At Rowlatts Mead Primary, our design and technology curriculum incorporates a Dragon’s Den style competition where pupils in years 2-5 become budding entrepreneurs; creating a solution to a problem by designing, making and conducting market research. They then pitch their ideas to a panel of judges allowing them to evaluate and improve their product.
In all year, groups Design opportunities are created through topic links which allow pupils to ‘design and make’ using a wide range of materials and components. Our children are taught to apply prior knowledge in order to evaluate their own and others products.
Design and technology is also encouraged through homework competitions in order to engage parents.
Cooking and nutrition is a fundamental part of the curriculum, as we want to instill a love of healthy eating and cooking at Rowlatts Mead Primary. Our pupils are encouraged to eat healthy options during lunch and each year group prepare dishes as part of their topic.
In addition, for enrichment we have a yearly cookery club and a ‘Bake off’ competition to improve pupils’ team work and confidence.
| Year Group | |||||||
| Year 1
| Is Leicester the best place to live?
N/A | What are the four seasons?
N/A | What do Hindus believe?
Christmas decorations Threading tactile wreaths | What should the 4th little pig use to build her house?
N/A | What’s growing in our garden?
Moveable Bear Split pin mechanism Cutting skills | How do we know dinosaurs existed?
Junk model dinosaurs Joining junk and finishing to create a dinosaur
| Are all animals the same?
Healthy sandwich Prepare and host a tea party. Look at where food comes from. |
| Year 2 | What makes our planet extraordinary?
African Fruit Kebab Measure and weigh ingredients Discuss origins of fruits Use principles of healthy eating.
African Jewellery Design, draw, paint, beading sewing technique
| Who were the Victorians?
Victorian puppet toy Slider mechanism and sawing dowel | Why do we celebrate festivals?
Christmas decorations Threading a needle and sewing felt trees with holes
| How do you know about the Great Fire of London?
Tudor Bread Understand where food comes from.
Tudor House Build structures, explaining how they can be made stronger, stiffer and more stable. | Why is the sun so important?
N/A | What is the Ocean?
Sea creature model Papier-mâché | |
| Year 3
| What makes Britain Beautiful?
N/A | Stone Age to Iron Age
N/A
| Festivals
N/A
| Extreme Earth
Volcano Construct a simple model exploring different types of tape and ways of joining
Easter decorations Threading a needle and sewing an Easter egg without holes
| The Romans Invasion of Britain
Mediterranean salad Explore where food comes from Cut food accurately and safely
Catapult Mechanism system – lever / pulley | ||
| Year 4 | Industrial Revolution
Night light Using electrical circuits Program using scratch | South America
N/A
| Festivals
N/A | Chocolate
Design and make their own chocolate bar Explore how to make it healthier
Easter decorations Threading a needles and sewing an Easter bunny including features
| Ancient Egypt
Sarcophagus / Egyptian mask Hinge mechanism
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| Year 5
| What makes me a good citizen?
N/A | The Vikings invasion of Britain
Viking long ship Sawing lollipop sticks and joining with hot glue Printing a flag
| Festivals
N/A | Earth and Space | Golden Age of Islam
Weaving Interlacing different yarns or treads at right angles to form a fabric
Recipe linked to fasting Where food comes from. How to sustain energy throughout the day.
| Garbage Guts
Models that move Using wheels, axels, cams and linkages and recycled materials | |
| Year 6 | How does change affect us all? (Evolution and Inheritance)
N/A | Is there fairness and justice in the world? (Titanic)
Design an outfit Based on a given class of individuals from the titanic Print a simple fabric design
| Festivals
N/A | WW2
Wartime soup recipe Dig for victory using the allotment boxes
Anderson Shelter Sawing and joining Exploring materials
Make do and mend Revive and repair worn out clothes (to include sewing on a button)
| What will we do when the fossil fuels run out? (Electricity)
Motorised race cars Assemble functioning electrical circuits Wheels and axels Make, modify and race Program using scratch
| William Shakespeare
N/A |
Subject Leader/s
Mrs R Patel
Impact
All year groups take part in the Rowlatts Hill Bake Off competition where pupils work collaboratively to research and create a cake. This year the bakers had to incorporate fruit or vegetables whilst gaining an awareness of ingredients, recipe, method, baking and decorating in a constructive but competitive way. The winners were Year 2 with their delicious lemon and courgette cake.
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As part of topic year groups 2 – 5 take part in a Dragons Den competition where our pupils are encouraged to become young entrepreneurs. In class pupils research everyday problems in order to create a unique solution, they then create a product and conduct market research. Pupils gain awareness of business skills such as advertising, marketing, financial management and presenting as well as developing their speaking and interview skills. This year the winner was year 4 with the Bluetooth Toothbrush.
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Year 1 have made dinosaur fossils using plaster of paris. The pupils first created a mould using plastic toy dinosaurs and sand. They then poured the mixture into the mould and waited two days before they could be excavated.
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Together We Succeed Through Challenge & Enjoyment