Curriculum Subjects

Design and Technology

Design and Technology (DT) is important because it encourages pupils to learn to think and intervene creatively to solve problems both as individuals and as members of a team. Children develop technical understanding and making skills, learn about design methods and investigate their environment and the materials around them.

At Greenleaf, we aim to offer opportunities for children:

to develop imaginative thinking and to enable them to talk about what they like and dislike when designing and making;
to enable children to talk about how things work, and to draw and model their ideas;
to encourage children to select appropriate tools and techniques for making a product, whilst following safe procedures;
to explore attitudes towards the manufactured world and how we live and work within it;
to develop an understanding of technological processes, products, and their manufacture, and their contribution to our society;
to foster enjoyment, satisfaction and purpose in designing and making;
to understand and apply the principles of a healthy diet;
to understand where food comes from and the issues of seasonality, making best use of our allotment.

In terms of knowledge and understanding, all pupils are encouraged to:

generate ideas through discussion and experimentation;

extend knowledge and understanding of a wide range of materials, including construction kits, textiles, food, wood, plastic, and reclaimed/junk materials;
make use of drawings and models to communicate their ideas;
evaluate their work and identify strengths and weaknesses in a positive way;
experiment with simple components, mechanisms and structures;
learn about health and safety when working with a variety of materials and tools;
consider risk to themselves and to others and build up a knowledge and understanding of the dangers inherent in certain products and tools;
experience design technology through off-site visits, where practicable, in order to see technology used in a real environment.