Design & Technology at Key Stage 3
What is Design and Technology?
Design and Technology is about designing and making products that solve peoples needs or wants.
What will I do in my Design and Technology Lessons?
You will be taught:
o How to use a design process.
o How to communicate your design ideas.
o How to research design problems.
o How to use ICT in your design and technology work.
o How to plan your work.
o Making skills
o Knowledge and understanding of the materials that you will use.
o How to test and evaluate your finished work and the work of other designers.
You will be taught this by completing Product analysis (PA) by looking at how products are designed and how they work we can learn a lot.
Focused Practical Tasks (FPT) by practising practical skills you will improve your quality.
Design and making assignments (DMAs) this is where you apply the skills and knowledge to solve problems.
What equipment will I need?
o Graphical equipment (pen. pencil, rule and colouring pencils.)
o Protective apron.
o Folder to store written work
o Container to store and carry food practical work to and from school
o Above all else bring a good attitude to school
Do I have the same teacher for every lesson?
No you will be put into a group and you will rotate specialist Design and Technology areas.
What specialist Design and Technology areas will I be taught?
During key stage 3 you will complete units of work in the following focus areas: -
o Graphic Products
o Resistant Materials
o Systems and Control
o Textiles Technology
o Product Design
In Key stage 4 & 5 you can choose to specialise in your chosen focus area.
Your teacher will explain further as you do the units but remember it is all Design and Technology you are just using different materials.
What type of work will I do in the units of work?
| Year 7 | Year 8 | Year 9 |
| Safety | Safety | Safety |
| Moving on from KS2 | Understanding Structures | Selecting Materials |
| What is Design and Technology? | Exploring Materials | Batch production |
| Understanding the design process. | Product Evaluation | Designing and making for Markets |
| Understanding materials | Designing and making for clients | Using Control |
| Designing and making for yourself | Using control | Moving on to KS4 |
| Using control |
But what will I make or do in each specialists unit of work?
Year 7
Safety.
A workshop tour and safety poster
Moving on from KS2.
A baseline assessment project to see how much you already know about Design and Technology.
What is Design and Technology?
An introduction to the resistant materials wood, metals and plastics, Food and Textiles
Understanding Materials.
In these units you will develop your understanding and knowledge of:
Wood. (Pencil holder)
Metals. (Balancing Man)
Plastics (Key fob / Fridge magnet)
Food (New snack)
Textiles
Understanding Food.
Understanding the Design Process.
In this unit you will learn how to design and make using the Design Process (PRIME)
Educational Number- Toy
Designing and Making for yourself.
In this unit you will complete a design and make assignment where you apply the knowledge and understanding you have learned.
Puzzle in a box (e.g. Marble maze)
Using control.
In this unit you will learn about mechanical control.
Mechanisms (Mechanical toy)
Year 8
Safety.
A project where you develop a safety worksheet based on Spot the mistake
Understanding structures.
In this unit you will develop your understanding of structures in your design work. (Protection Cage)
Exploring Materials.
In these units of work you will explore the properties of Wood. (Box construction using aids for production)
Metals. (Hanging basket bracket using scrolling former.)
Plastics. (Vacuum formed present packaging)
To identify the correct material for the project.
Textiles
Product Evaluation.
In these units of work you will learn how to analyse existing designs and how these could be used in your designing and making. (Domestic electrical item) (Textiles pencil case)
Designing for clients.
In these units of work you will apply your knowledge and understanding to design and make for clients DMAs based on garden products, web sites for primary schools.
Using control.
In this unit of work you will use electronic control Electronics. (Switches, LEDs', 555 Timers)
Using ICT.
Year 9
Safety.
A project where you develop a safety worksheet based that can be used to get the safety message across.
Selecting Materials.
This time you choose the material which is most suitable for your design.
Wood based materials (e.g. MDF based CD holder)
Metals. (Non ferrous metal jewellery)
Plastics. (Simple bending project)
Designing for Markets.
This time you will design and make for markets.
Batch production (Mini enterprise, Clocks, Novelties, Photograph display new dishes for the canteen, New bread products)
Using Control.
Electronics (Product design using electronic control e.g. Baby Alarms,)
Using ICT.
Learning how to use Computer aided design software. Pro-Desktop Cad
Moving on to KS4.
In this project you will get an insight into the type of work you will do for GCSE. It will also help you make your option choice
How will my work be marked?
While you work through the units of work your teacher will give you verbal feedback (talk to you about your work) and suggest possible improvement.
At the end of each unit of work your teacher will assess your work. Your teacher will give you an attainment level (How good you are at Design and Technology) and an effort level (How hard you have worked).
What do I do with my finished work?
Take it home and show it off to your parents or the people who look after you.
However we may wish to put some of your work on display.