Design a Christmas Cracker Legend has it that Christmas Crackers were first designed by confectioner Tom Smith to sell his sweets at Christmas time. He was inspired by the ‘bon bon’ wrapper design that he had seen on his travels in France. He added the ‘snap’ when the cracker was pulled apart and put in a joke or riddle along with the sweet and they have remained a popular part of the festive season ever since! Students are asked to design a festive cracker for Christmas – cutting out the template and using drawing and colour to create their own stand out Christmas decoration. The worksheet includes teacher instructions and an extension task for high achievers. Skills practised: Imagination Drawing skills Use of shape and colour Hand skills and accuracy Shape and function

This resource offers a design task, related questions and extension regarding the new royal coinage for Charles III. Students will answer questions and design their own coin as a response. Topics and skills covered include: Art and Design - portraiture and mark-making Designing in response to a brief and set of boundaries. History and politics - relating to public design. “The Royal Mint has unveiled a new coin design introducing a portrait of King Charles III and, after production, the coins will be added to the 27 billion coins currently in circulation in the UK. The image was created by British sculptor Martin Jennings who used photographs as a reference for the design; the king has been said to be very pleased with the likeness! Have you noticed that the King is not wearing a crown? This was a deliberate design specification to make the King appear more human and accessible, why do you think this is important?”

Escape Room cover lesson with extension task. Students design their own Escape Room, imagining the themes, clues and mysteries that go in to it. The extension task asks students to create the marketing for their target audience. Skills practised: Imagination Lateral thinking Drawing and perspective skills Fiscal and economic considerations Narrative and storytelling Annotation and technical drawing

Stained Glass Mini Project (3 - 6 lessons) KS3 2d design, laser cutter, acrylic, sketching.

Art Deco Christmas Bauble Students are asked to research and design an Art Deco inspired Christmas bauble decoration by the company John Lewis. The worksheet also contains an extension task for high achievers. Skills practised: Imagination Lateral thinking Drawing and perspective skills Use of shape and colour Narrative and storytelling Annotation and technical drawing

Cut Out and Keep Board Game Students are asked to: “design a ‘Cut out and Keep’ board game which could be printed on the back of a cereal packet for example. The design should include; The board; 6 playing pieces; A spinner; Instructions” Skills practised: Imagination Lateral thinking Drawing and perspective skills Use of shape and colour Narrative and storytelling Annotation and technical drawing

Cover work - Stained Glass (design and technology, Art and Design) Key Stage 3 - Graphic design, problem solving, cultural design.

Types of Motion - Rube Goldberg Machines In this fun lesson students are asked to examine how Rube Goldberg’s over engineered machine works and examine the types of motion inherent within it. They will then design with their own contraption which has the same functions as the Goldberg machine and incorporate the types of motion they have discovered during their examination. The accompanying extension task asks students to research Rube Goldberg and to design ‘in the style of’. Skills and learning: Imagination Lateral thinking Types of motion Engineering Drawing and perspective skills Research and interpretation skills Annotation and technical drawing