Design and Technology

How we teach Design and Technology

At St Matthew's Primary School, we teach D&T every other term. 

We teach D&T by covering these main areas:

Investigate

In our Design and Technology lessons, we start off by evaluating existing products. This is so children can look at what they will be making at the end. Children thoroughly enjoy this aspect of D&T because they are able to see products they have not seen before and they enjoy being market researchers. 

Design

This is when children are given a design brief so they know what they need to make and why they are making it. When we are able to, teachers contact companies to come in or send videos so the children have a strong sense of purpose. During this stage, children will be practicing the skills that they will need to make their final prototype. This is the most enjoyable part of the design process for children. This is because they love to get creative with drawing and modelling materials to develop solutions to the problems identified. 

Make

This is when children are applying the skills that they have learnt during the design process. During this stage, children are making their prototype. 

Evaluate 

Evaluation is an important stage in this process because it allows children to test their prototype to see if it works. Children will also reflect on what they have learnt.