A KS3 project (year 8 or 9). A project written for an environment without powerpoints and interactive boards. It hangs on the initial two lessons researching into pop up mechanisms and then pop out mechanisms. Students practically manufacture a range of them, but also record and analyse the mechanisms in a work booklet. The remaining weeks focus on concept designs, then developments and a final working card. Included are all the resources (templates & handouts) along with lots of exemplars from previous students.

A series of 4 x A4 sheets which guide children through the design of a future product by category with some inspirational images. Each takes around a period. Great for non specialist cover.

A series of 5 sheets which can be printed in A4 or A3. The rendering sheets will take around a period, and the perspective sheets a double period. Each are self guided being suitable for a non specialist.

Double sided A4 sheet which guides students through the design of a LEGO style minifigure, they then design a sustainable carton based packagaing net to sell them through. Fill a double lesson with a non specialist. Best with Year 7 and 8.

A great cover lesson which can easily be set to cover around 2 hours with a non specialist (but could easily be reduced in challenge to an hour). Two single sheets of A4 are required to be copied in advance, but otherwise only scissors (and rulers if desired) are needed. The work is self contained and comes with explanation. There is an accompanying powerpoint with bigger instruction pictures if desired, but isn’t necessary. There is an extension task too. Works well with Y7/8/9, and gains pleasing results with interest throughout.

This is a printable guide booklet to give to children which guides them through all sections of the NEA. Each page gives a doodle of what their sketchbook or PowerPoint slide should look like, along with guidance as to what to include in order to meet the mark scheme needs. The booklet is tried and tested, and I have used this format for many years with great success. This booklet is written specifically for AQA GCSE D&T (latest spec). Included is a fully editable version (made in PowerPoint), which you could easily modify to OCR etc. too if you so wished. I have also included a printable booklet of the mark scheme for students and teachers (just a cut down version of the specification), which I find handy for marking, and also a deadline poster for display in the department. This guide will work with any contextual challenge.

Every year I make a countdown calendar for year 11, which commences the day after Easter holidays (when the NEA is complete - or hopefully is!). It’s 3 sheets of A4 that I encourage them to pin up at home in the kitchen. Then I request that they answer one question every day whilst they are making their breakfast. It often inspires them to look deeper into the keywords which invariably brings about deeper revision elsewhere in their week. It’s always a success with the students. A printable PDF along with the original Powerpoint are included, so you can edit the questions. There is a theory slide in there too, (linked to the EEF research) that goes through the best revision methods in a D&T context. The questions are set up for the AQA exam, but the questions would work with any exam board!

A full set of NEA guidance booklets for A-level D&T. The booklets talk the students through a ‘standard’ NEA powerpoint / portfolio. Each has a page by page description, along with doodles of what a page should look like (but doesn’t breach the exam board guidance). Has been used successfully for 2 years now, with high grade results. Students have been highly complimentary as to the guide’s usefulness and clarity. This is not 200 pages of written content, it’s written for 17/18 year olds, so get’s to the point without waffling or being too vague. NB: I teach section A&B (as known by AQA in the specification) as ‘Section A’ as I find it easier to do the brief/spec in the first chunk. Therefore the guidance appears as only 4 sections, but does cover all 5.

Powerpoint for use during options process - fully editable, and included within is the freely available DATA video on “What is Design & Technology?” Presentation focuses on skills and jobs.

A 17 slide powerpoint covering material testing in readiness for NEA. This focusses on testing techniques you can easily do in school (tensile, hardness, toughness, energy (heat) transfer etc. Within the powerpoint are photographs and videos of each test taking place in the workshop (they are made by me - not just a youtube video). The theory works as a standalone presentation, but if you wanted to make your own testing rigs, I have made a few simple contraptions to make testing more controlled which are also shown in the powerpoint photos/videos in use - all 3 would be easy to make in any DT workshop in a few hours. There is an accompanying handout for recording any practical tests that students do. Always one of the favourite lessons of year 12, and they get to complete a piece of NEA in the process too! As with all my lessons, they come with a retrieval exercise to begin and relevant exam questions (with mark scheme) to conclude.

This resource is a 7 week module of 2 hour lessons aimed at year 9 children (but would be suitable for able year 8 children, or for foundation skills in GCSE). This resource includes an editable and printable A4 work booklet (word format) and 7 editable PowerPoints, including within all theory needed, and home learning too. Alongside this are accompanying files for laser cutting the joint tags, and a 2D design file of each joint drawn up in isometric and rendered. You will need to install the font ‘Drafting’ (free download from dafont) Materials needed: 1.2mm sheet aluminium Recycled pallet wood for the backing boards, 3mm MDF for the name tags, 1mm sheet steel 15mm steel tube Recycled aluminium for the sand casting 15mm pine for all wooden joints. Screws / brass and glue as needed. All is sourced from K&M Wholesale. Outcomes are great, and there is significant learning throughout.

A KS3 project designed to be an induction year 7 project for all students. A ‘Baseline Test’ if you wish through practical means. Includes all presentations, booklet and scheme of learning mapped to PoS. Main focus of students: 1 - Introduction (and infographics) 2 - Sketching with crating 3 - Sketching with primitives 4 - Isometric Drawings 5 - Rendering in pastel with templates 6 - Moodboards and designer influences 7 - Pulling it all together. 8 - Foam Modelling 9 - More Foam Modelling 10 - 2 Point Perspective & Evaluations Editable powerpoints, and booklet enclosed (including differentiated version). Video on pastel rendering included. Drawing examples (not essential) are made in ‘artrage’.

A simple to edit powerpoint based learning journey, coloured to national curriculum colours. This could be used for any subject as a template, or modified to your own school for D&T. All images are copyright free (thenounproject). Fonts are embedded, but to install the main one is ‘Londrina’ available for free online in multiple places.

Theory powerpoint on production aids, including templates, jigs and formers. Lesson completes with quick check questions and a applied maths task.

Worksheet (double sided A4) walks you through an investigation into the scientific principles of helicopters. It keeps it simple, but is a good first example of iterative design and performance improvement. Also needed: a small dowel or sharpened square stick (could even be a pencil); pencil sharpener; a small strip of plastic - vacuum forming plastic is perfect (HIPS), or even a sliced up milk bottle, and a hole punch. I have used this for transition day activity (year 6/7) for years and lasts around 40-60 minutes. Could be stretched to an hour. Could be used in KS3 too.

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Provided free as a sample of what my project packs are like. All I ask is that you drop a review back as to what you think of the resource. If you like it, and my style, please have a look at my other materials. This does NOT have editable booklets, nor assessment sheets, but does include all (editable) powerpoints, along with schemes of learning etc. A version of this with editable files is available through my shop for a few pounds. You will need to install the font ‘Drafting’ (free download from dafont) A modern take on a classic woodwork project, creating a laminated curved lid pine box. This is a sequence of 7 lessons, each 2 hours long, with full powerpoint to accompany all learning. The lessons have a work booklet to complete, and also a modified version for SEND students. There are extra step by step guide sheets to help too. Materials needed: 2 of 210mm x 70mm x 15mm pine, flexi/aero/bendy ply sheet and some thin normal ply. Outcomes are great, and there is significant learning throughout.