Developing Young Innovators
The design and technology curriculum at Penponds encourages children to use their specific technical knowledge and imaginations, to design and make products that solve real and relevant problems and briefs within a variety of contexts. Projects aim to allow children to consider their own and others’ needs, wants and values when designing their products. We aim to, wherever possible, link work to other disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art. It intends to teach evaluative skills to ensure children are able to test products, reflect upon their ability to solve a problem or meet the brief. The curriculum intends to encourage children to become innovators and risk-takers when designing and making products. Our DT curriculum is supported through Kapow teaching modules.
We are innovators
Agreed teaching principles for DT:
● The design process is broken into small steps that guides children through technical vocabulary acquisition along the way
● Projects are embedded in the wider curriculum to create purposeful DT projects
● Teaching is sequenced logically to include the three phases of DESIGN, MAKE, EVALUATE
● Technical vocabulary will be introduced and taught through repetition and recall
Teaching Approaches:
● Design - develop the creative, technical and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world.
● Make - build and apply a repertoire of knowledge, understanding and skills in order to design and make high-quality prototypes and products for a wide range of users.
● Evaluate - critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products and the work of others.
● Technical Knowledge - understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook.
To be an innovator I need to -
Identify the problem that needs solving.
Think and plan my product to solve the problem
Draft and mock-up a first design and be prepared to make changes
Be a risk-taker
Be creative
Be resourceful
