A rich visual investigation into traditional timber construction methods along with their typical applications in the world of design and manufacturing. Each family of joining methods are described in photographs and diagrams together with the reasons for use.

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.

An investigation with comprehension exercises to support the teaching of modern and smart materials along with their typical applications in the real world.

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.

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 guided investigation into a variety of surface finishes and protection for a range of materials together with the reasons for their use in manufacturing. Students have a set of questions and tasks to complete to consolidate their learning.

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.

A focused investigation into different types of paper and card together with their uses with reasons designed for AQA product design. The pack also explores printing techniques and processes with their uses. Students have a set of questions and tasks to consolidate their learning. Its a very visual resource designed for a board display.

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 great idea for an assignment or enrichment activity. Build your own terrifying T Rex bookend beast to guard your books with this detailed construction tutorial containing all the templates and construction plans needed to bring him to life. Adapt the detailed plans to suit your own KS3 scheme of work.

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.

Ideal opportunity for an enrichment or extension activity. Download these easy to follow, detailed construction plans, templates and instructions to build your own adorable hungry hound toy. With a push of the handle, he snoops, sniffs and yaps as he is pushed along. His legs generate a walking action. His tail eagerly wags, driven by an eccentric cam and follower hidden between the rear wheels. The head is basically a type of bell crank flipped up and down by two inside wheel pegs located on the interior of each front wheel. He can be pushed with a handle fixed into his top.

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.

Fantastic extension task or after school activity.Build this timber push along crocodile toy that bites and waddles along with the push of his handle. Kids love him and shriek with a mixture of fascination and fear as he ambles toward them. The legs mimic a walking action as the wheels rotate causing the jaws to open and shut with with a realistic snap sound. The tail is articulated and designed to swish side to side as he moves. The production plan contains all the plans, instructions and templates to build your own menacing reptile.

A fantastic resource for an enrichment or craft extension activity. The chimp cycles furiously away as you push him along with a handle located at the back omitted for clarity. As he pedals, the torso tilts forward and back with the effort using a hidden pivot point located between the leg and trike frame. Make him by preparing and assembling the components shown in the detailed dimensioned diagrams and easy to follow assembly instructions. We don’t normally approve of performing primates but he volunteered and got a nice uniform for the gig as well.

A fantastic resource for an enrichment or craft extension activity. The snappy orcas mouth opens and closes as you push her along making a lovely wooden click sound as the jaws snap shut. She’s made from painted, recycled birch plywood for durability and sustainability. Begin making your own by downloading the detailed production plan! The PDF contains all the templates, easy to follow instructions and information needed to produce this adorable creature that will be loved for generations.

A fantastic resource for an enrichment activity or craft club. Build this adorable, laminated, carved and polished birch plywood kangaroo toy. Its a mechanical push pull action operated by a simple mechanism located secretly in the underside. Push or pull her along to make the head and tail oscillate. The legs mimic a big jumping action as she moves. The kinetic motion causes the head to nod and the front paws to swing freely. She makes a beautiful mechanical racket as she’s pushed along. A handle is conveniently located in the top to operate her .

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.

A resource to explore the environmental and ethical and moral impact of design and manufacturing on the planet. Several case studies are used to explore sustainability issues and the ethical alternatives. I made it as an optimistic resource that shows students there are viable, sustainable alternatives to current, unsustainable design and manufacturing. Concepts and content includes, sustainable and unsustainable design, renewable and non renewable energy sources, product life cycle analysis, six R’s of sustainability, up cycling and the hidden costs of design.