Design & Technology at Acre Heads
At Acre Heads, our vision is a design and technology curriculum which combines skills, knowledge, concepts and values to enable children to tackle real problems.
We encourage children to use their creativity and imagination, to design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. It can improve analysis, problem solving, practical capability and evaluation skills. We aim to, wherever possible, link work to other disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art. The children are encouraged to become innovators and risk-takers.
The Teaching of Design & Technology Through a Structured Process
All pupils at Acre Heads have access to a broad, balanced and enriching Design & Technology curriculum through a spiral designed scheme of work with the following key principles in mind:
Cyclical: Pupils return to the key areas again and again during their time at Acre Heads.
Increasing Depth: Each time a key area is revisited it is covered with greater complexity.
Prior Knowledge: Upon returning to each key area, prior knowledge is utilised so pupils can build upon previous foundations, rather than starting again
Where possible, key Design & Technology units are allocated into linked curriculum themes or taught as discreet areas. The planning of the D&T units ensures that knowledge builds over time and is introduced in an order that enables pupils to build their knowledge of important concepts throughout their time at Acre Heads. The Design & Technology Long Term Plan (LTP) outlines the units to be covered by each year group. These units and associated objectives form the Scheme of Work for each year group ensuring a basis of retrieving and developing knowledge as detailed in the Design & Technology Road Map.
Scheme of Work Structure
Lesson 1
The first lesson of the project, depending on the Design & Technology unit, introduces a particular skill, knowledge or a particular design feature. During this lesson, the children will be asked to explore a particular concept or design a product or model.
Unit Lessons
There are typically four lessons in each Design & Technology project starting with exploring a concept, designing a model, practising a particular skill, making a model or product, preparing food and finally evaluating what they have made.
Summary
Throughout the year there are showcase opportunities., with the Christmas Fair, DT Week and World Week.
For specific year group knowledge organiser, please click the zipped file below:
Progression of Knowledge through the Year Groups
Impact of Design & Technology at Acre Heads
Our Design and Technology curriculum allows pupils to combine practical, creative and reflective skills allowing them to become discriminating and informed consumers and innovators.
D&T Journal Example
“I like designing structures that are aesthetically pleasing and selecting materials that meet the required needs.”
“After making my structure, I understand that the shape of a structure affects its strength.”
test
“After making my WW2 torch, it was essential that we tested and evaluated the final product was fit for purpose.”
“My electrical Earth model used a series circuit, incorporating a motor linked to a Crumble kit.”
Year 5 Cookery Club enjoyed making Flapjack yesterday, the smell from Acre Bites was delicious. Well done Year 5! 😋👩🏻🍳🥣 #acreheads #cookeryclub #year5 #clubs #afterschoolclub #yummy #DT ... See MoreSee Less
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Year 5 cookery club made pizzas last night. Pepperoni, ham, cheese and tomato! Well done 😋#acreheads #year5 #cookeryclub #DT #afterschoolclubs #nopineapplehere ... See MoreSee Less
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Claire Giblin JB 💙
Yummy 😋
Tea Time Club have been getting crafty, they decorated paper plates last week. Looks like they were getting a little bit festive! #craft #art #DT #teatimeclub #acreheads 🤶🏻🎅🏻🎄✂️🎨 ... See MoreSee Less
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The Year 5 cookery club made blueberry and pecan muffins last night, they looked delicious! We hope you enjoyed them #acreheads #year5 #cookeryclub #clubs #DT ... See MoreSee Less
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They were absolutely delicious.
Claire Giblin, they tasted delicious too. Nom nom nom 😋
Foundation Stage have been learning about the Hindu festival Diwali. They have enjoyed making their own diva lamps #acreheads #foundationstage #FS2 #DT #re ... See MoreSee Less
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Andrew Dawson Karen Hill
Year 2 have been decorating gingerbread in the theme of Disney characters. Well done Year 2 they look great, fabulous imagination! #acreheads #year2 #DT ... See MoreSee Less
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Year 3 have been making summer fruit crumble in AcreBites today #acreheads #cookery #year3 #DT👩🏻🍳👨🍳 ... See MoreSee Less
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Jack are his on the way home yum yum!
Great job year 3 🧑🍳👨🍳
Rob Brown Natalie Brown Teresa Russell
In DT this week Year 3 have made seasonal fruit kebabs #acreheads #year3 #DT 🍏🍎🍌🍊🍓 ... See MoreSee Less
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The children in Foundation Stage have been using their fine motor skills to learn how to mould and construct shapes with playdough, using their hands #acreheads #FS2 #foundationstage #DT ... See MoreSee Less
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Abi Symons
As part of their Mayan theme Year 3 have been making salt dough tiles of their ‘glyphs’. After shaping and carving their tiles they will be baked in the oven. We are looking forward to seeing the end product #acreheads #year3 #theme #dt #history ... See MoreSee Less
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FS2 have been focusing on DT skills this week. They’ve been practising their cutting & joining skills, putting moving wheels onto the bus 🚌✂️🛞 #acreheads #foundationstage #FS2 #DT ... See MoreSee Less
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Delicious aromas of spaghetti bolognese and garlic bread drifting through the school today! #year5 #DT #acrebites #acreheads 👩🏻🍳👨🍳🍝 ... See MoreSee Less
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Claire Giblin. Jayden’s tastes lovely, he’s scoffing it, nom nom nom 😋