Children will know:

• The difference between a design brief and design specifications.

• Design specifications describe how a product should be made, how it works or what it should do.

• How making models of their intended product can help in the design process.

• Rules and procedures for keeping themselves safe when making products.

• The properties of materials that they are working with and how these determine the tools and techniques that they use.

• That a list of the main stages of turning a design into a product will aid the making process.

• What different components of a system do and how these can be incorporated into their product to make them work.

• Design specifications are a list of success criteria for the product.

• When evaluating products, it is important to use the design brief and the design specifications as a guide.

Materials

• That products are made of materials that are chosen because of their properties.

 Mechanical Systems

• How levers and linkages work together to create different movements in products.

Structures

• Whether a structure is a frame structure or a shell structure

• Suitable techniques to strengthen materials.

• Suitable techniques of making structures more stable

 Electrical Systems

• Components of an electric product such as a switch, battery, motors, and buzzer,

• The importance of a complete circuit when using a series circuit.

• Electrical circuits are used in products to make them work.

Practical Knowledge (skills)

Children will know how to:

• Design a product that meets client’s needs and the design brief.

• Use design specifications as a guide to the making process.

Drawing Skills

• Communicate and draw out their designs using three-dimensional techniques such as ‘crating’ and isometric drawing.

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• Follow instructions to ensure that they work safely.

• Select suitable tools, equipment, materials, and components for the task.

• Explain their choices of materials, techniques and tools when making a product.

• Measure, mark out, cut and shape materials with increasing accuracy.

• Identify the characteristics of a design which makes the product useful and successful.

• Test for the strength and stability of different structures

• List the ways in which a finished product meets the design specifications. 

Materials

• Measure, mark-out, cut and shape a wide range of materials.

• Cut internal shapes and joining slots in sheet materials.

• Join and combine materials and components using a variety of methods.

 Mechanical Systems

• Create different types of movement in products using a range of mechanical systems, including levers and linkages

 Structures

• Choose suitable materials, techniques, and tools to construct or repair products.

• Apply a range of practical skills and techniques to create stable and strong frame structures.

 Electrical Systems

• Build simple circuits, including bulbs and switches, into their products.

• Use tools and equipment to attach components when creating a simple circuit.

• Create products that include simple circuits to make them work.

• Troubleshoot a simple circuit to identify components that may be faulty.