The subject lead for Design Technology at Darwen St James is Miss Sanders.
Mechanisms Autumn 2021
Year 1 investigated Moving Minibeasts in the Autumn term!
They looked at different types of mechanisms including sliders, levers and pivots.
Have a look at their lessons.
Year 1- Mechanisms
Structures Spring 2022
Year 1 have been exploring the features of stable structures. We looked very closely at toy garages made from wood and plastic. We noticed features such as ramps, car parking places and barriers. We explored all sorts of materials that we could use to make our own structures such as cardboard, paper, and fabric and tested them to see which would be the most suitable. We designed our own structures for different purposes and built them.
Have a look at Year 1's lessons!
Year 1 Stable Structures
Mechanisms Autumn 2021
Year 2 have been learning all about fire engines.
They investigated chassis, wheels and axles.
Have a look at their lessons!
Year 2 - Mechanisms
Textiles Spring 2022
Year 2 have been enjoying exploring, designing ad making puppets this term! They started with making finger puppets thenwent on to design and make glove puppets. They explored different ways to join material together.
Have a look at Year 2's lessons!
Year 2 - Textiles- Puppets
Textiles Autumn 2021
Year 3 are getting ready for Christmas by designing, making and evaluating Christmas Stockings.
They will be experimenting with a variety of ways to join materials including using different types of stitches.
Have a look at their lessons.
Year 3 - Textiles
Mechanisms Spring 2022
In Spring, Year 3 are investingating mechanisms and making a moving storybook. Have a look at our lessons.
Stuctures Autumn 2021
Year 4 are looking at shell structures.
They are investigating, designing, making and evaluating a mini greenhouse!
Have a look at their lessons.
Year 4 - Shell Structures
Year 4 are busy working on their Art and Design during the Spring term but they are very much looking forward to more DT in the Summer Term when they will be learning about Electrical Systems and Food and Nutrition!
Have a sneak look here at our summer lessons!
Electrical Systems - Summer 1 2022
We have started Electrical Systems in DT. First we had to remember how an electrical circuit works! We were given all the parts but we had to work it our for ourselves! Our challenges: Can you make the motor spin? Can you make the bulb light up?
Food and Nutrition - Summer 2 2022
Textiles Autumn 2021
Year 5 are investigating, designing, making and evaluating a drawstring bag.
Have a look at their lessons.
Year 5 - Textiles
Structures Autumn 2021
Year 6 are looking at structures.
They are investigating, designing, making and evaluating bridges.
Have a look at their lessons.
In the Autumn term, we were all busy working on our Design and Technology projects!
Year 1 - Moving Minibeasts
Year 1 explored how to construct a sliding mechanism, a lever and pivot mechanism, and finally a wheel mechanism. They then applied their knowledge and understanding to design and make a moving minibeast picture for an author who was writing a book about minibeasts.
Year 2 - Fire Engines
Year 2 learnt all about fire engines. The class explored modern fire engines and their features, and explored, designed, created and evaluated their own model fire engine using wheels, axles and chassis. This fitted in with Year 2’s History topic ‘Great Fire of London’ by also looking at 17th century fire engines.
Year 3 - Seasonal Stockings
Year 3 got ready for Christmas! The year 3s developed and used their knowledge and skills by using a variety of sewing techniques. They joined and decorated fabric in order to design and make their very own Christmas stocking!
Year 4 - Making Mini Greenhouses
Year 4 children became aspiring engineers and architects with this fun DT scheme of work!
Children in Year 4 found out the purpose of a greenhouse and how it works, before they moved on to exploring how structures like these can be made stable, and what materials would be the most appropriate to use. Children then applied this knowledge and understanding when they designed, made and evaluated their very own mini greenhouse!
Year 5 - Funky Fashions
Year 5 took a look at how textiles are used in the fashion industry. They were challenged to design, cut, stitch and decorate a stylish drawstring bag!
Year 6 - Building Bridges
Year 6 investigated types of bridges and the structures that support them. This topic included lots of practical activities with a challenge for the year 6s to build their own bridge.
Using readily-available materials such as card, paper or art straws, children explored ways in which forces act on bridge structures, how they are constructed and how they are strengthened.
Working well as part of a team was crucial, too – as children got to grips with designing, making and evaluating a variety of bridge designs!
