Design and Technology at Thriplow

Design and Technology – Our Vision at Thriplow

At Thriplow we integrate the DT as part of our school curriculum to specifically add depth and context to the topic subject.

Throughout the school DT is embedded into the programme. From Early Years investigations through to Year 6 making an apron for ourselves. To identify a need; develop a design step by step, through to an analysis of the product are all important skills for the World our children are living in.

Design > Make > Evaluate > Technical > Cooking and Nutrition

The Design element of each project is to: design purposeful, functional, appealing products for themselves and other users based on a criteria. In Caterpillars this is to design a chocolate bar wrapper as part of their Chocolate topic.

The Make element is: to select from and use a range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks. In Dragonflies for example the children have learnt about cutting a pattern and then fabric, shaping hems by pressing pinning, joining tape for straps and finishing their aprons by sewing using a machine and by hand.

The Evaluate element: is to explore and evaluate a range of existing products. Mayflies will design a parachute as part of their study of Forces in Science. Testing and trying out of their product is an essential part of the review and improvement.

Our Technical Curriculum: Build structures, exploring how they can be made stronger, stiffer and more stable. Ants build boats as part of their Ocean Explorers topic.

Cooking and Nutrition: The basic principles of a healthy and varied diet are learnt in the preparation dishes. Ants make pumpkin soup in Autumn, Butterflies make a smoothie linked with George’s Marvellous Medicine and Grasshoppers try Greek food as part of the Ancient Greeks topic.

At Thriplow we aim to enable our children to grow and engage with the World we are in, thoughtfully. The topic subjects provide an inspirational springboard for planning and integrating relevant DT elements. The knowledge, skills and understanding are broad in range but are possible solutions to real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts.