Design Technology - Fairground Ride (Upper Key Stage 2)

In this unit of work children design and make a working model of a fairground ride that uses rotational movement and is driven by a pulley system. Applying their understanding of computer programming they use block code to control the movement and functioning of the fairground model. Using their experiences of visiting fairgrounds and theme parks and watching an animation of a theme park, children deepen their understanding of the different movements of fairground rides and how they can be themed as part of the experience. They learn how a pulley and drive belt system works and how they can be used to transfer movement, change the speed and direction of movement. Children design a fairground ride model that uses rotational movement and make a wooden box structure for their model before adding a pulley and drive belt system. They use a Crumble Kit motor as part of an electrical system and apply their knowledge of block coding to control the speed and direction of the motor. Using their designs for guidance, children decorate the fairground model. For the evaluation part of this unit of work children evaluate the overall project and the processes they undertook to create the fairground model.

This knowledge, skills and understanding is delivered through the following six sessions:

1. IDEA Task 1: Investigating Fairground Rides & IDEA Task 2: Investigating Pulley Systems
2. Focused Practical Task 1 – Making a Base for the Model
3. Focused Practical Task 2 – Fairground Ride Designer
4. Group Designing Session IDEA Task 3: Electric Motors and Computer Control
5. Making the Model
6. Evaluating the Project