A resource developed for years seven, eight or nine to improve graphic skills and presentation of ideas. The seven tasks begin with thick and thin line technique, rendering materials and texture. Students are given 'sample sheets' of black and white rendered forms that show how tonal detail and specific materials would appear rendered in both monochrome and colour. Students are then prompted to look at how to combine colour with tone and texture. The Powerpoint contains all the visual resources and examples needed to complete the assignment.

A booklet designed to support students progress within the AQA Product design syllabus (design and make) . This example is for a jewellery design assignment but can be modified.

Coursework support booklet for A2 Product Design (UNIT4). Contains coursework components and assessment criteria. Also included are some examples for ideas and development of a choen idea.

Production exercise for a key stage three group using timber and basic mechanisms. Sequential photo diagrams and notes explains how to construct a mechanical timber robot from stock size softwood. Each stage of making is described in sequence with all the dimensions and assembly instructions. Enrichment opportunity exists in prompts toward a more sophisticated outcome. The second booklet contains photographs only and more detail about production aids to explain assembly

An information and research task for students and teachers to investigate a range of mechanical fixings, knock down fittings and adhesives. A wide range of examples are covered along with practical applications with reasons for use. The closing slides contain a comprehension exercise and question sheet for students to complete. The resource contains lots of images and reference to real world applications.

Unit three revision booklet with heavy emphasis on design movements from the Victorians to the digital age. Booklet contains all other unit three requirements and ends with three product analysis and evaluation exercises.

Introduction and tasks to develop students ability to recognise and describe a basic range of composite materials

A resource and set of activities prepared for year eight to introduce types of motion, mechanisms and force. The resource offers some comprehension and practical research into levers, linkages, and cam mechanisms with a card based engineering design task at the end. questions and tasks to consolidate and extend the learning are built in at each stage

A guided investigation beginning with stock forms of availability and progressing into an analysis of the physical and mechanical properties of a range of materials together with their working properties. The resource then analyses basic fabrication processes and how these impact different scales of hand and commercial production for a variety of materials together with their uses in manufacturing. Students have a set of questions and tasks to complete to consolidate their learning.

A resources to enable students and teachers to investigate nineteenth and twentieth century lighting as stimulus to designing an interior light using a range of materials and processes. The file contains an investigation into major design movements from the Arts And Crafts movement to the digital design of the present and how these philosophies and styles have influenced design. Students are prompted to critically analyse examples of lighting designs from each era to find useful features for their own work. The pack also contains a guide booklet to take them through each stage of the design task. Each resource can be edited or adjusted to suit the needs of the teacher and class.

Build this adorable push pull pull frog toy using the easy to follow instructions packed with explanatory text and images. The sequential guide guarantees completing every step easily and successfully with a full description of materials, tools and processes involved.A fantastic enrichment or production exercise task.

A resource I designed and made for year nine or ten product design. Students study the basics of motion, mechanisms and force to produce a crank driven garden decoration. It isn’t a heavily prescriptive resource but offers opportunity for interpretation, differentiation and varying degrees of sophistication in terms of outcome. It contains lots of mini focused practical tasks to produce the key components for a complete, functioning garden whirligig. It contains a wealth of information to help analyze existing products, conceptualize and develop a working solution. I’ve also attached a complete production plan for the whirligig shown in the video.

An investigation with comprehension exercises to support the teaching of timbers and manufactured boards along with their typical applications in the world of design and manufacturing. Timbers and boards are described along with their physical and mechanical characteristics and reasons for use.

Made for the AQA Resistant Materials preliminary material research task in preparation for the exam. A page of development diagrams and tasks designed to prepare sudents to be able to describe in diagrams and words how to construct a task light using a variety of methods or approaches.

A Powerpoint presentation containing a range of inititial concepts and inspiration for seating design. I made it for the AQA resistant materials 2017 theme 'public seating for adults and young children.' It explores seating generally with some directly relevant to external seating concepts. Some of them combine hand drawn examples enhanced digitally which students enjoy.

A fantastic resource for an enrichment activity or craft club. Make your own chomping shark! A push of the handle is all that’s needed to bring him to life. He makes a lovely wooden snapping sound as the jaws open and close. The downloadable PDF contains all the plans, templates and detailed photographic instructions needed to produce this adorable playroom predator. He’s made of carved and painted recycled birch plywood. The easy to follow sequential instructions takes you through every step of making to ensure a successful outcome that will be loved for generations.

Ideal activity for an extension activity or enrichment opportunity. Download the detailed and easy to follow construction plans to build this terrifying push along dinosaur toy. He’s made from laminated, carved and painted timber. The dinosaur toy uses a linkage mechanism to cause the head to simultaneously lunge up and down as the jaws snap open and shut. A cavity inside the abdomen contains an eccentric cam to drive the head mechanism as the wheels rotate. Gravity keeps the head assembly in constant contact with the eccentric cam wheel. When you push or pull him, he charges along on legs connected to the wheels and makes a lovely snap sound as the jaws shut. The grasping forearms hang freely waiting to grab its prey. The figure is completed with an articulated tail made by gluing angled timber slats on either side of a canvas interface causing it to swing side to side as the figure is pushed and pulled along. The addition of some 4mm dowel teeth complete his air of reptilian menace.

A task designed to help students gain expertise and confidence using CAD skills using Google Sketchup. Easy to follow, step by step instructions allow the user to produce an attractive, completed design for a mechanical robot toy using a wide range of basic tools and functions within Google Sketchup.

A fantastic resource for an enrichment activity or craft club. Build this adorable, laminated, carved and polished birch plywood duck toy. A perennial push along favourite. Follow the easy to understand tutorial to complete your own push pull duck toy. The head rises and falls as you push him along causing the beak to snap open and shut making a lovely click. Two concealed cam wheels also cause the wings to raise and lower alternately. He’s carved and shaped from layers of stained and sealed birch plywood for durability. The tutorial contains all the information, templates and drawings needed to produce your own clattering duck that will be treasured for years.

An ideal extension or group production exercise for later years. Build this adorable trike riding chimp using the easy to follow, detailed plans. He pedals furiously as you push him along with a push stick located in the back of the tricycle frame. His head and torso rises and falls on the saddle with effort as he rides along. He’s made of oak with an oiled finish for protection, any number of other timbers could be suitable, especially beech. The handlebars, shoulder pivot, and leg spacers are made from easily sourced and shaped metal components. An ideal accompaniment for a manufacturing and mechanisms exploration assignment.