DTThe teaching of Design & Technology at Barrow Hills is based on encouraging exploration, experimentation and creativity in order to further children's learning and understanding, both in relation to the subject and across the wider School curriculum. We have a dedicated DT workshop, a textiles room and a kitchen which offer the opportunities for all students to study resistant materials (wood, plastics, metal), electronics, textiles and cookery. Children are given freedom to explore at every stage of the inventive process, starting with design and planning and progressing through modification, production, manufacture and, finally, evaluation. This is intended to inculcate the fundamentals of DT and increase their insight into how the physical world works. Starting at Year 3, and working throughout in the specialist DT rooms, children build upon foundation-based knowledge and skills all the way up to Year 8. Examples of some projects include in Year 3 the construction and siting of nesting boxes, in Year 4 Lego CAD software use and the further assembling of student designed Lego models, in Year 5 the vacuum forming of plastic model cars incorporating electronic components and studying the gear systems at an amusement park, in Year 6 the design and construction of flying machines, and in Years 7 & 8 respectively both gravitational and petrol powered go karts. Year 8s will also take part in a once only project for them; amongst these have been included projects such as the design and construction of a treehouse as a Year 8 common room. Strong cross-curricular links are established with all parts of the curriculum, but particularly with Physics, Maths, Art, Drama, Forest School and Thinking Skills. The workshop, textiles room and kitchen are also all regularly used for our PRISM extra-curricular activities. Russell Fisher, Head of DT |
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