Design Technology - Orrery (Upper Key Stage 2)

Orrery is a Design Technology unit of work aimed primarily at children aged 9-11.
Design Brief: Design and Make an Orrery to teach younger children how the Solar System works.
The package provides the medium-term plan, six lessons (each lesson has a MS Powerpoint presentation). Any additional resources are provided as PDFs or as Powerpoint Presentations. This unit of work fulfils the National Curriculum (England) Design Technology requirements for this age group in the following strands of learning:

• Mechanical Systems
• Structures
• Materials
  In this project, children apply their knowledge of mechanisms and in particular cam mechanisms, to design and make an orrery. They learn that an orrery is a mechanical model of the solar system that shows how the planets orbit the Sun. They learn how a cam mechanism can change vertical rotation into horizontal rotation and apply this knowledge when designing their model. They create a wooden framework to house the mechanical system that works the orrery. They design and make a model of the solar system that will rotate as part of the model. Children decorate the orrery model using suitable theming. They evaluate their finished product against the design brief and design specifications and consider improvements they would make to their product. As part of the evaluation process, children create a Zine all about the orrery they have designed and made.

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

1. IDEA Task 1: What is an Orrery?
2. Focused Practical Task 1 – Making a Cam Frame
3. DME: Designing the Orrery
4. DME: Making the Orrery
5. DME: Decorating the Orrery
6. DME: Evaluating the Orrery