Through a variety of creative and practical activities, pupils should be taught the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to engage in an iterative process of designing and making.

 

When designing and making, pupils should be taught to:

 

Design:

• Use research and develop design criteria to inform the design of innovative, functional, appealing products that are fit for purpose, aimed at particular individuals or groups.

• Generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through discussion, annotated sketches, cross-sectional and exploded diagrams, prototypes, pattern pieces and computer-aided design.

 

Make:

• Select from and use a wider range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks, accurately.

• Select from and use a wider range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their functional properties and aesthetic qualities.

 

Evaluate:

• Investigate and analyse a range of existing products.

• Evaluate their ideas and products against their own design criteria and consider the views of others to improve their work.

• Understand how key events and individuals in design and technology have helped shape the world.

 

Technical knowledge:

• Apply their understanding of how to strengthen, stiffen and reinforce more complex structures.

• Understand and use mechanical systems in their products [for example,gears, pulleys, cams, levers and linkages].

• Understand and use electrical systems in their products [for example, series circuits incorporating switches, bulbs, buzzers and motors].

• Apply their understanding of computing to program, monitor and control their products.