This engaging and purposeful lesson enables children to understand what slider and lever mechanisms are and consider their uses. The lesson was originally taught as a part of a series of lessons created to guide children towards creating polar slider and lever scenes, but the resources can easily be adapted to fit your own particular project. This first lesson helps children to: -Understand what slider and lever mechanisms are; -Consider objects, vehicles and tools that use slider and lever mechanisms; -Understand how slider and lever mechanisms work, including introducing children to the key vocabulary (e.g. bridge, slot, pivot, etc); -Begin thinking about design considerations for creating a polar slider/ lever mechanisms picture. Included is an eye-catching and comprehensive 17-slide PowerPoint presentation, and a research template (in both Word and PDF). These lessons were originally created for children in years 1-2, but may be adapted for slightly older and younger year groups. The other lessons in the series are available on this site individually, or all of the lessons can be purchased as a part of a bundle.

This engaging investigation activity allows students to use develop their innovation, creativity and collaboration skills to control the direction of their enterprise project. The resource set guides students through the entire project, from conception to evaluation, and includes resources/ guidance for the following activities: -Deciding upon different roles within their groups, in order to carry out multiple tasks effectively; -Designing a company name and appropriate logo and slogan; -Researching their product area, including competitors and USPs; -Conducting market research; -Budgeting; -Detailed product design; -Packaging design; -Creating instructions for users; -Formulating and presenting a persuasive pitch; -Surveying the target audience for their feedback; -Self-evaluating strengths and areas for development. A comprehensive PowerPoint presentation guides students through the project. There are at least a week’s worth of resources in here, enabling students to fully immerse themselves in the project. I orignally have used this with KS2 and KS3 students, but they could reasonably be adapted for students in KS4. All images have been cited at the end of the PowerPoint presentation and are licensed for commercial use.

A Russian billionaire, Asman Veryrich, has approached you about setting up a new football club! This exciting, engaging investigation activity allows students to control the direction of their own learning, through speaking, listening, discussing, and reasoning. I initially created these resources to provide something interesting for the students to engage with for their English Speaking and Listening discussions, but it has since been used across Maths, Art and Design, and PSHE departments, as well as by form groups and holiday activity groups, to build teamwork and collaboration skills. Students get involved in all of the fun aspects of designing and setting up a new football club, including selecting a team of players, a manager, a stadium, and a training ground. They also design the team's club badge and football kits. They also need to use their skills of literacy to read and understand key evidence, and skills of numeracy to ensure that they keep their expenses within budget! What is more, groups can compete against one another to create the most successful team in the league, as all of the resources that they choose can help them to acquire valuable league table points! Included in this resource pack are: - Full PowerPoint lesson talking students through the process; - An 8 page team booklet, used to create their designs and calculate their budgets; - A pack of 96 player cards and 12 manager cards to select from (a combination of new and classic footballers are included, to ensure that this will never be outdated); - Budget and recording sheets to track their progress; - An A3 football pitch to strategise and select their team. Considering the time and effort that it took to create these resources, I think that they offer exceptional value. Whenever I have used this activity before, it has taken at least 3-4 lessons, including the introduction, design process, presentations, and evaluation. I originally have used this with mixed ability Year 9 and 10 groups, but colleagues have adapted it easily for students of all key stages. All images have been cited at the end of the PowerPoint presentation and are licensed for commercial use.

This clear, detailed and visually-appealing resource offers a complete reference point for children, teachers and parents learning about ‘Structures’ as a part of the KS2 curriculum in Design and Technology. The organiser is clear, logical and fully meets the expectations of the National Curriculum. This organiser has a particular emphasis on frame structures. It includes sections on: -Overview - Structures and Frame Structures; -Example Structures - The Eiffel Tower and Tents/Gazebos; -Designing - How do I design a strong, stable, secure frame structure; -Making and Evaluating; -Health and Safety Guidance. The resource is designed to be printed onto A3, and is provided as both a PDF and a Word version (so that you can edit if you want to). All images used are licensed for commercial use and are cited on a separate document (included).

This clear, detailed and visually-appealing resource offers a complete reference point for children, teachers and parents learning about ‘Mechanisms’ as a part of the lower KS2 curriculum in Design and Technology. The organiser is clear, logical and fully meets the expectations of the National Curriculum. This organiser has a particular emphasis on sliders and levers. It includes sections on: -Overview - Mechanisms, Levers and Linkages; -Example Mechanisms - Seesaw, Scissors, Steam Engines, Scissor Lifts; -Designing; -Making and Evaluating; -Health and Safety Guidance. The resource is designed to be printed onto A3, and is provided as both a PDF and a Word version (so that you can edit if you want to). All images used are licensed for commercial use and are cited on a separate document (included).

This engaging and purposeful series of lessons enables children to gradually develop towards constructing vehicles using wheels and axles. The resources were originally created to guide children towards building safari buggies, but the resources can easily be adapted to fit your own particular project. This is the third lesson in the series, which focuses on making the wheel, axle and enables children to: -Recall how wheel and axle mechanisms work; -Recall key terminology relating to wheel and axle mechanisms; -Understand a clear design brief; -Understand how to put together a chassis, different types of wheel/ axle fixings and washers; -Test and improve their base vehicle. The resource is made up of a 12-slide PowerPoint presentation. These lessons were originally created for children in years 2 and 3, but may be adapted for slightly older and younger year groups.

This engaging and purposeful series of lessons enables children to gradually develop towards constructing prototype vehicles using wheels and axles. The resources were originally created to guide children towards building safari buggies, but the resources can easily be adapted to fit your own particular project. This first lesson helps children to: -Understand how wheel and axle mechanisms work; -Consider objects, vehicles and tools that use wheel and axle mechanisms; -Understand what the chassis and body of vehicles are; -Begin thinking about design considerations of the wheels, axles, chassis and body of different vehicles, with a particular consideration of purpose and audience. Included is an eye-catching and comprehensive 20-slide PowerPoint presentation, and a research template (in both Word and PDF). These lessons were originally created for children in year 2, but may be adapted for slightly older and younger year groups.

This engaging and purposeful lesson enables children to design slider and lever mechanism projects. The lesson was originally taught as a part of a series of lessons created to guide children towards creating polar slider and lever scenes, but the resources can easily be adapted to fit your own particular project. This lesson enables children to: -Recall how slider and lever mechanisms work; -Recall key terminology relating to slider and lever mechanisms; -Understand a clear design brief; -Understand the key considerations of the design, including the functionality of the mechanism, in addition to its appearance and its appropriateness; -Complete their plans, using the well-structured planning sheet; -Peer and self-assess their designs in relation to the success criteria. Included is an eye-catching and comprehensive 16-slide PowerPoint presentation, and the design template (in both Word and PDF - A3). These lessons were originally created for children in years 1-2, but may be adapted for slightly older year groups.

This clear, detailed and visually-appealing resource offers a complete reference point for children, teachers and parents building their knowledge of Textiles as a part of the KS2 curriculum in Design and Technology. The organiser is clear, logical and fully meets the expectations of the National Curriculum. This organiser has a particular emphasis on developing sewing techniques. It includes sections on: -Overview - Textiles and Sewing Techniques; -Example Textiles - Phone Cases, Wallets and Purses; -Designing; -Making and Evaluating; -Health and Safety Guidance. The resource is designed to be printed onto A3, and is provided as both a PDF and a Word version (so that you can edit if you want to). All images used are licensed for commercial use and are cited on a separate document (included).

This engaging and purposeful series of lessons enables children to gradually develop towards creating healthy snacks. The resources have originally been created to guide children towards creating snacks with a bread/ cracker/ rice cake base, but the resources can easily be adapted to fit your own particular project. This first lesson helps children to: -Understand what the terms ‘healthy’ and ‘balanced’ mean; -Learn about the different food groups, and understand how much of each category is healthy (utilising a clear and concise video - hyperlinked); -Understand what effect the values of each food type have on the body; -Research examples of each of the different food types, recording the values on their research template. Included is an eye-catching and comprehensive 17-slide PowerPoint presentation, and a research template (in both Word and PDF). The hyperlink to the video is included on slide 4. These lessons were originally created for children in years 3 and 4, but may be adapted for slightly older and younger year groups.

This clear, detailed and visually-appealing resource offers a complete reference point for students learning about the textile designer and printer William Morris, as a part of their art and design study. It contains comprehensive sections on: -Biography of the Artist; -Styles and Techniques; -William Morris Timeline; -Significant Works; -Key Vocabulary; -How do I create art like Morris? This resource can be adapted for all ages, but was originally designed for KS2 and KS3 children. The resource is designed to be printed onto A3, and is provided as both a PDF and a Word version (so that you can edit if you want to). All images used are licensed for commercial use and are cited on a separate document (included).

This engaging and purposeful lesson enables children to make their slider and lever mechanism projects. The lesson was originally taught as a part of a series of lessons created to guide children towards creating polar slider and lever scenes, but the resources can easily be adapted to fit your own particular project. This lesson enables children to: -Recall how slider and lever mechanisms work; -Recall key terminology relating to slider and lever mechanisms; -Understand a clear design brief; -Understand the key considerations of the design, including the functionality of the mechanism, in addition to its appearance and its appropriateness; -Follow guidance in order to create the slider/ lever mechanisms; -Test and improve their mechanism; -Peer and self-assess their designs in relation to the success criteria. Included is an eye-catching and comprehensive 16-slide PowerPoint presentation, and pictures for children to cut out use (if they are not drawing their own pictures - these are provided as both Word and PDF). These lessons were originally created for children in years 1-2, but may be adapted for slightly older year groups.

This clear, detailed and visually-appealing resource offers a complete reference point for children, teachers and parents developing their knowledge of Textiles as a part of the KS2 curriculum in Design and Technology. The organiser is clear, logical and fully meets the expectations of the National Curriculum. This organiser has a particular emphasis on combining different fabric shapes It includes sections on: -Overview - Textiles and Combining Fabric Shapes; -Example Textiles - Embroidered Clothes and Tie Dye Bags; -Designing; -Making and Evaluating; -Health and Safety Guidance. The resource is designed to be printed onto A3, and is provided as both a PDF and a Word version (so that you can edit if you want to). All images used are licensed for commercial use and are cited on a separate document (included).

This engaging and purposeful series of lessons enables children to gradually develop towards constructing prototype vehicles using wheels and axles. The resources were originally created to guide children towards building safari buggies, but the resources can easily be adapted to fit your own particular project. This is the second lesson in the series, which enables children to: -Recall how wheel and axle mechanisms work; -Recall key terminology relating to wheel and axle mechanisms; -Understand a clear design brief; -Understand the key considerations of the design, including the effectiveness of the mechanism, and the functionality and appearance of the vehicle; -Complete their plans, using the well-structured planning sheet; -Peer and self-assess their designs in relation to the success criteria. Included is an eye-catching and comprehensive 14-slide PowerPoint presentation, and the design template (in both Word and PDF - A3). These lessons were originally created for children in year 2, but may be adapted for slightly older and younger year groups.

A simple DT project evaluation sheet. Includes 2 per sheet to save paper! Provided as both PDF and Word documents.