Hello, I trained as an industrial designer, then found myself training as a D&T teacher (great choice!). I've been at it for nearly 20 years now. I was a subject leader for 10 years, leading one of only 10 schools in the country to be recognised by the SSAT as leading edge for D&T. I'm also a past recipient of the DATA annual awards for leadership. I am now in senior leadership, but still teach D&T to KS3,KS4 & KS5 weekly. All resources are well designed, and do what they say on the tin!
Hello, I trained as an industrial designer, then found myself training as a D&T teacher (great choice!). I've been at it for nearly 20 years now. I was a subject leader for 10 years, leading one of only 10 schools in the country to be recognised by the SSAT as leading edge for D&T. I'm also a past recipient of the DATA annual awards for leadership. I am now in senior leadership, but still teach D&T to KS3,KS4 & KS5 weekly. All resources are well designed, and do what they say on the tin!
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.
All sets are stand alone sheets suitable for non specialists to print and distribute. Could be used for remote home learning too, and some for blended learning.
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.
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.
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 series of 5 worksheets walking you through various drawing techniques.
Cross Hatching & Tonal Range
One Point Perspective
Rendering a Toaster
Rendering Shapes
Two Point Perspective
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 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.
A bundle of worksheets based on Lego Mini models (simple Lego models). Children are tasked with drawing up the photographed model in isometric. At the top of the page I have modeled this task in simple steps.
To draw, use thick/thin lines, and then render the models should take around an hour per sheet.
File enclosed is a printable PDF and accompanying jpeg.
I have other sheets available in this series, or a compilation package too.
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’.
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.
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.
All resources are FULLY EDITABLE, in word or powerpoint format.
You will need to install the font ‘Drafting’ (free download from dafont)
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.
A KS3 project for either year 7 or year 8, with all presentations, booklet (including differentiated version) and scheme of learning mapped to PoS. Main focus of students:
1 - Investigate structure theory (tension / compression) through practical means and associated theory (CAD files included).
2 - Investigate material properties (wood, metal, composites).
3 - Design and then develop a small building for a school site (a stand alone study space). Initially individually, and then develop CAD models and card models as a small group.
3 - Present concept to rest of group, including ‘observation cards’ for presentations.
Editable powerpoints and booklet enclosed.
A collection of simply photocopy and distribute cover work sheets. Each should take around an hour, and the mini figure task 2 hours (as it involves packaging too).
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.