Archived Design & Technology 2022-2023
Opal Learning Zone
The Three Little Pigs – The Opal children have been busy creating the different pig houses. The Arts and Craft provision has been set up with a range of materials that the children could access independently. Amara was very enthusiastic to create a wooden house. She said: “I am making the wood house. I am gluing the sticks on.”
Amara had great fun whilst crafting. The wooden house has now been added to ‘The Three Little Pig’ role play area.
Amethyst Learning Zone
It was Bronze medal for the Amethyst in the Great Stanhope Bake Off – During Design Technology we were asked to participate in Stanhope’s Great British Bake Off. This consisted of each Learning Zone creating a cake over several weeks. The steps of baking were broken down over a series of lessons with the children designing their creations before attempting to create them. We weren’t too confident as the competition began, but with some resilience and determination we managed to come third! Well done to all the children!
Arts & Crafts Station – One area of the Learning Zone that is always utilised is the Arts & Craft station. The children are forever busy crafting and making a range of items. Amber was ecstatic with her creation, here is her critique:
“I made a jewellery box to take home. I glued pompoms, feather and sticks on it to make it pretty.”
Sapphire Learning Zone
The Great Stanhope Bake Off – In Spring 2, the whole school took part in a ‘Great British Bake off’. We researched famous bakers such as Nadiya Hussain and then decided on the cake to bake. We chose a ‘wacky cake’ which is a vegan cake created during the depression and is made with simple ingredients. We had a great time learning and practicing new baking skills and we thought our cake was delicious!
Stable structures – We have recently started our Design and Technology topic ‘Stable Structures’. To start off the topic, we made our very own stable structures out of resources we had around the classroom. We showed excellent teamwork and resilience and the structures we built fulfilled the design brief we were given.
Ruby Learning Zone
Shell Structures – Our Design Technology topic had us looking at different shell structures and how to strengthen them. Firstly, we learned about how 3d shapes are constructed from nets and identified what a flattened 3d shape would look like. We experimented with techniques such as laminating and corrugating to strengthen our shapes. Finally, we tied our projects together with our Christmas crafts to create a box that could be secured to transport our crafts home in. We were pleased with the results!
Emerald Learning Zone
Making Parachutes – The Emerald Learning Zone have been designing and making parachutes this half term. This lesson they worked with partners to test out different shapes and materials. Some worked better than others and we were able to use this information to support our final parachute designs.
Diamond Learning Zone
Introducing the winners of the Great Stanhope Bake Off 2023 – The Diamond Learning Zone! – The children had a fantastic half term of learning all about the baker (Liam Charles) as well as researching and creating our very own Rainbow cake with a surprise in the middle! The children were over the moon when we were crowned winners of this year’s competition!
Building Bridges – The Diamond Learning Zone have been busy testing bridges this half term. We have looked at the importance of different bridges and studied how they have changed over the years. We used different materials to investigate the strength of a range of different aspects such as: pillars, beams, trusses and arches.
Archived Design & Technology 2021-2022
Opal Learning Zone
How confidently can you use equipment? – Today we have been using a range of equipment to create Valentines cards. The children have showing excellent fine motor skills as they used scissors and glue sticks to create a card for a loved one. Each child made a card and used communication and language skills to explain why that person was so special.
Cup and Ball – Following a lesson where we concentrated on old-fashioned toys the children were captivated by the cup and ball. This enthusiasm allowed the staff to collate materials allowing the children to create their own. The children thoroughly enjoyed their creative designs.
Maddie said, “It’s hard to get in in the cup. But I will keep trying.”
Amethyst Learning Zone
Which material will make the best pirate ship? – As we continue our Pirate Topic the children have been working collaboratively to create a boat. The children were separated into five groups:
- Plastic
- Paper
- Wood
- Cardboard
- Lego
Each group created their own pirate ship which was then tested out on the River Wear. The following day the children walked to the near-by bridge to get a perfect view to see how their boat managed on the water. The plastic pirate ship was fantastic at floating, this resulted in Mrs McArdle sprinting alongside the river in an attempt to retrieve it. Due to the fantastic behaviour that was observed by the community, all of the children were allowed 10 minutes at Riverside Park.
How do you make ice cream? – The new topic of Polar Regions has allowed the children to explore how food are made, in particular ice cream. Today the children worked collaboratively to follow instructions to make our own Oreo ice cream. The children showed excellent use of equipment and co-operation skills during the making process. Following that, we placed the ice cream in the freezer over night and ate it the next day. The feedback from the children was excellent, however the staff were mostly impressed with the cooking skills the children showed.
Sapphire Learning Zone
The Great British Bread Off – The theme this term for Design and Technology was the Great British Bread Off. The task was for each Learning Zone was to make a type of bread at the end of the six weeks. We started off by tasting different breads and we decided to make a classic soda bread because in geography we were learning about countries in the United Kingdom. We really enjoyed the process of making the bread and we won the competition against the rest of the school!
Vehicles – The children have been exploring moving vehicles. After investigating a range of examples, the children set off exploring and testing out their own wheels and axels. Next, the children designed their own vehicles and sourced the required junk materials they would need. The children spent time building and testing their vehicles and had a fantastic time seeing their finished creations zooming across the hall floor!
Ruby Learning Zone
Emerald Learning Zone
Night Lights – The Emerald Learning Zone are making Night Lights in D&T and today’s lesson was all about putting our Science knowledge to good use. We use equipment to make a simple circuit which we will use to light up our nightlight designs when they are complete.
Phone Cases – This term, we have been designing and making phone cases out of felt in our Design and Technology lessons. After we created our final design, we practiced the different stitches we could use to create the case. Once we had made the case we added the detail using more felt and fabric pens.
Diamond Learning Zone
Baking for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – For the Queen’s Jubilee, the children made their very own shortbread biscuits with icing. The children enjoyed weighing out the ingredients, using the crown cutter and putting their own designs on using edible pens. The children had a fantastic day celebrating!
The Great British Bread Off – The Diamond Learning Zone had a fantastic time participating in the Great British Bread Off! We thought we would think outside of the box and make our own bread (Bannock Bread) on a fire. The children thoroughly enjoyed researching, comparing the price of ingredients from local competitors and making their very own Bannock bread. We used two methods of cooking: a frying pan over an open fire and some of us even tried cooking it on a stick. Although we didn’t win, our bread was very tasty and the children were very proud of their efforts.
Mechanisms – We have had lots of fun in DT this half term! The children have studied and created different types of mechanisms to create their final piece of work – their Christmas card! The children had lots of great ideas that they were able to include in their designs.
