The purpose for teaching DT
At Eastfield, our aim is to inspire children to use their creativity to design and create products that solve real life problems. This enables children to actively participate in the changing technological world, as users, consumers, designers and innovators. We strive to ensure children use their imagination to create authentic designs for a real purpose using their understanding of how things work.
The teaching and learning of DT
Our children’s learning journey starts in pre-school and reception where children are given opportunities to build and construct on a range of scales and investigate how toys move. Through creative activities, they explore a range of ways to attach and join materials. They develop fine motor skills through threading activities and simple sewing projects. Children learn to make healthy choices about food and drink and learn some basic food preparation techniques.
During Key Stage 1 and 2, children will complete three different projects throughout the year, focusing on our three different strands; sew, cook and build. Lessons are weekly or blocked into daily sessions, depending on the nature of the project. The learning journey for each project builds on children’s knowledge and skills and leads to a purposeful end goal. To begin with, children evaluate existing products, then move on to focused practical tasks, practising the skills needed for their project. They then design and make their products, applying the skills previously learnt. Finally, children will evaluate their work and achieve their end goal.
The principles of health and safety are taught as an integral part of DT lessons so that children understand the importance of this when making their products.
Children are inspired by learning about designers within different design and technology fields and will make links with design and technology in the real world.
In food technology, they apply the principles of cooking and nutrition, understand seasonality and where food comes from. They cook a variety of dishes using increasingly complex cooking techniques based on the Food for Life programme.
Documents
DT MTP Overview
DT Progression Map
The outcomes of our DT curriculum
When children leave Eastfield, they will have learnt a range of practical skills and knowledge to make products that meet the needs of those who use them. They will have a good understanding of the design process from initial design ideas, to making their products and finally testing and evaluating their effectiveness.
In food technology, children will be equipped with an understanding of nutrition and a variety of cooking techniques to enable them to make healthier lifestyle choices.
Children will have had the opportunity to share their food projects with their families through a family dining event and will have experienced food technology in a Key Stage 3 setting through links with a local secondary school. Children will also have experienced design and technology in the real world through a variety of trips.