Balmoral Drive, Manchester, Lancashire, M34 2JX

admin@dweschool.org

0161 336 3409

Denton West End Primary School

Only our best is good enough

A A A

DT

Design and technology prepares children to take part in the development of tomorrow’s rapidly changing world. Creative thinking encourages children to make positive changes to their quality of life. The subject encourages children to become autonomous and creative problem-solvers, both as individuals and as part of a team. It enables them to identify needs and opportunities and to respond by developing ideas and eventually making products and systems. Through the study of design and technology they combine practical skills with an understanding of aesthetic, social and environmental issues, as well as functions and industrial practices. This allows them to reflect on and evaluate present and past design and technology, its uses and its impacts. Design and technology helps all children to become discriminating and informed consumers and potential innovators.

The aims of Design and Technology teaching are:

  • to develop imaginative thinking in children and to enable them to talk about what they like and dislike when designing and making;
  • to enable children to talk about how things work, and to draw and model their ideas;
  • to encourage children to select appropriate tools and techniques for making a product, whilst following safe procedures;
  • to explore attitudes towards the made world and how we live and work within it;
  • to develop an understanding of technological processes, products, and their manufacture, and their contribution to our society;
  • to foster enjoyment, satisfaction and purpose in designing and making.

The school uses a variety of teaching and learning styles in design and technology lessons. The principal aim is to develop children’s knowledge, skills and understanding in design and technology. Teachers ensure that the children apply their knowledge and understanding when developing ideas, planning and making products and then evaluating them. We do this through a mixture of whole-class teaching and individual/group activities. Within lessons, we give children the opportunity both to work on their own and to collaborate with others, listening to other children’s ideas and treating these with respect. Children critically evaluate existing products, their own work and that of others. They have the opportunity to use a wide range of materials and resources, including ICT.

December 2023

Year 6 have been working very creatively on their electrical circuits unit in Design and Technology.  They looked at a variety of games that had an electrical circuit. They worked in pairs to design a game for a certain age group. They had to think about what the children of that age would be interested in and how they could challenge those children. They thought of questions that the intended age group would have to answer and if they answered correctly, the buzzer or light on the game would turn on. Year 6 had to ensure the electrical components connected together correctly and were linked up to the correct answer. They had to understand how an electrical circuit worked and think of all the equipment they would need.  Knowledge gained from their science unit helped their understanding.

Once the games were completed, the year 6 children went around the school with their product and asked the children and staff to answer the questions and play the game. 

Below are some of their amazing creations.

 

November 2023

This term, year 2 have been designing and making a prototype ambulance for a car manufacturer. Their work linked to their History topic about Florence Nightingale. The children used recycled materials from home and, during their design process, had to choose between a moving or fixed axle. Below are photos of the year 2 designers at work and some amazing end products. Well done Year 2.

October 2023

Year 6 have been tasting, evaluating, designing and making fruit crumbles! They began by tasting and evaluating a fruit crumble.  They were then given a customer who had a specific dietary requirement or food preference.  The children had to adapt the crumble recipe to suit the individual needs.  They worked in small groups , revisiting and practicing skills of peeling, chopping and grating fruit.  Fantastic crumbles year 6!

December 2022

Year one have been researching, designing and making Christmas cards for their family. The learnt all about mechanisms and how levers and linkages can make things move. Before their design process, they looked at a variety of cards and explored how they moved. After their research process had been completed, the children were all very keen to begin to develop their own ideas of what their card would look like and how they wanted it to move. The children used split pins and lolly sticks in their designs. 

Once their product was complete, they had the opportunity to reflect on their design and think about what they liked about it and what they would do to improve it, if they made it again.

Great work year one! I know your family would have been very pleased to receive such creative cards.

For more information about the curriculum areas please contact the school