"Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes and having fun!"
Mary Lou Creek
Welcome to Design and Technology at Cranborne
Design and technology (DT) is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject. Using creativity and imagination, pupils design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts. Pupils learn how take risks, becoming resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens. (Department for Education)
At Cranborne, we want the children to become the designers and technologists of the future. We want them to understand the life-long skills that give DT relevance to real life and future career opportunities.
We ensure DT is taught following the National Curriculum (Years 1-6) and the Early Years Foundation Stage Expressive Arts & Design guidelines. Our lessons are cross curricular, covering the skills and knowledge needed in a fun and interesting way, stimulating children’s interest in and curiosity about DT. We deepen the children's knowledge and understanding of the changing world of DT by encouraging pupils to ask questions and propose solutions to DT problems.
Design and technology in EYFS
In the Early Years Foundation Stage, DT is taught within the Expressive Arts and Design guidelines. The children are given opportunities to develop their ability to use simple tools, such as scissors and hammers, and to effect changes to different materials, such as playdough. They are encouraged to plan what they are creating, to talk about their creations and to adapt their work.
Design and technology in KS1 and KS2
In Years 1-6, children follow the 'design, make, evaluate' approach to create purposeful and functional products. They begin this process by investigating and evaluating existing products in order to create a design criteria for a new product. A more detailed explanation of the children's learning can be found on our DT curriculum map below.
The Great British Sewing Bee comes to Cranborne Primary School
From African-themed hand puppets and wonderful weaving to Christmas stockings and practical purses, the children at Cranborne have been extremely busy showing their excellent sewing and textile skills.
Exhibition Evening
This year's Exhibition Evening saw a truly amazing display of design and technology skills. In Reception, the children used clay to mould the animals they had seen on their trip to the Hertfordshire Zoo. They also created some stunning rockets from recycled junk. Year 1 designed and made some stable chairs for the three bears - not even Goldilocks could break them! After their study of Diwali, they moulded beautiful diva lamps and decorated them with paint and jewels. A very unusual puppet theatre had arrived in Year 2 - all the puppets were African animals and were hand sewn! Moving monsters were on display in Year 3 and the children had built pneumatic systems to open and close the monsters' mouths. Year 4 used sliders, levers, hinges and spinnners to design and create some incredible moving storybooks based on Alice in Wonderland. In Year 5, the children had used very complex CAM mechanisms to make their fantastic moving toys. Take a look at the photos!
What do our children think about their design and technology lessons?
Doing DT is fun and you get to keep the things you have made - I will never thrown anything away. I have a special shelf at home to keep everything. I'm very proud of what I've made. Year 3 pupil
I feel peaceful when I'm doing DT. Year 3 pupil
If you're feeling a bit angry, DT is calming. Year 4 pupil
Everyone's more relaxed in DT - there's more freedom and you can have your own ideas. At home, my Plushies keep falling apart and I tried to mend them. We could start making clothes - socks to begin with and then get bigger - we could have a factory! Year 4 pupil
It's exciting, it's fun and you get to create and have your own ideas. I'm looking forward to doing DT at secondary school - my brother's actually building a car. Year 5 pupil
I just love designing things - you don't always have to make them. Year 5 pupil
I love all DT - it's a good feeling when you make something and you didn't think you would be able to. I would love to make my own clothes at home or may be just clothes for a teddy to start with. Year 6 pupil
I'm more confident in DT so I can help other people - it makes me feel good when I do that. Year 6 pupil
What do you do if your DT project does not go to plan?
You do a 'Beautiful Oops' and you turn your mistake into something beautiful. I found it tricky to find the right shape boxes for my tank but I got there in the end. When my boxes fell off, I asked my friend to help and we worked together. Year 2 pupil
If your project doesn't work first time, you should keep on trying and maybe start again - you should never quit. Year 4 pupil
Count to 10 and then try a different technique. Year 4 pupil
I got a bit annoyed threading the needle but there's nothing wrong with asking for help. A friend helped me and then we made a purse together. Year 4 pupil
If it doesn't go well, you can try again. Ask yourself: How could I make this better? Year 5 pupil
When the bread plait went wrong, I just tried a new design - you learn when it goes wrong. Year 5 pupil
If your project does not turn out well, you should start again - you learn by making mistakes. I think chefs and cooks get their ideas by making mistakes. Year 6 pupil
"Creativity is seeing what everyone else has seen , and thinking what no one else has thought." Albert Einstein
Do you fancy trying some DT challenge at home? Take a look at these websites for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) projects:
designmuseum.org (create and make at home)
education.theiet.org (primary teaching resources)
stem.org.uk (primary teaching resources)
Take a look at some of our amazing DT work
Year 2 have been busy designing and making fantastic vehicles. They even attached wheels and axles so that the vehicles could move!
Year 3 Cooking and Nutrition: Healthy eating snack
Year 3 enjoyed researching, designing and making a healthy sandwich snack to eat at their Christmas party.
Year 5 Cooking and Nutrition: Bread
Year 5 enjoyed researching, designing, making and eating different types of bread.
Year 4 Textiles: Sewing Money containers
Year 4 researched, designed and made their own amazing purses.
