Design & Technology

The National Curriculum for Design & Technology in Years 1 and 2

Design

Our children will be taught to:

• design purposeful, functional, appealing products for themselves and other users based on design criteria
• generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through talking, drawing, templates, mock-ups and, where appropriate, information and communication technology

Make

Our children will be taught to:

• select from and use a range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks [for example, cutting, shaping, joining and finishing]
• select from and use a wide range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their characteristics

Evaluate

Our children will be taught to:

• explore and evaluate a range of existing products
• evaluate their ideas and products against design criteria

Technical Knowledge

Our children will be taught to:

• build structures, exploring how they can be made stronger, stiffer and more stable
• explore and use mechanisms [for example, levers, sliders, wheels and axles], in their products.

Cooking & Nutrition

Our children will be taught to:

• use the basic principles of a healthy and varied diet to prepare dishes
• understand where food comes from.

The National Curriculum for Design & Technology in Years 3 to 6

Design

Our children will be taught to:

• 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

Our children will be taught to:

• 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

Our children will be taught to:

• 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

Technological Knowledge

Our children will be taught to:

• apply their understanding of how to strengthen, stiffen and reinforce more complex structures
• understand and use mechanical systems [for example, gears, pulleys, cams, levers and linkages] in their products
• understand and use electrical systems [for example, series circuits incorporating switches, bulbs, buzzers and motors] in their products
• apply their understanding of computing to programme, monitor and control their products.

Cooking & Nutrition

Our children will be taught to:

• understand and apply the principles of a healthy and varied diet
• cook a repertoire of predominantly savoury dishes so that they are able to feed themselves and others a healthy and varied diet
• become competent in a range of cooking techniques [for example, selecting and preparing ingredients; using utensils and electrical equipment; applying heat in different ways; using awareness of taste, texture and smell to decide how to season dishes and combine ingredients; adapting and using their own recipes]
• understand the source, seasonality and characteristics of a broad range of ingredients