Case Study - Key Stage 1

The following case study is presented as an exemplification of good practice in the teaching of design and technology at key stage 1.

Vehicles - Year One

The task

To design and make a prototype fantasy car that could be used by their favourite cartoon character. Four 60 minute lessons over two days.

How the project was taught

The pupils from Victoria Park Primary School watched a video of different vehicles and constructed a chart of different types on the whiteboard. They identified cars, buses, coaches, motorcycles, taxis and lorries and also used newspapers for gathering ideas.

The pupils made pictures and the class used a shared-writing activity to label the axle and wheels. Other features like lights were added after discussion with the pupils.

Next they looked at pictures of older cars and noticed some differences. They discussed how cars might change and what could be added to make it more fantastic. The pupils drew some designs of their fantasy car. The teacher demonstrated how to make the chassis of a vehicle and the pupils undertook the Focused Practical Task. Pupils were split into groups to make their fantasy car with as little teacher-intervention as possible.

The pupils showed their finished cars to the teacher and created a display of them in the classroom, which also showed different cartoon characters. They then completed an evaluation chart.

Pupil outcomes

Each pupil made a fantasy car. Some of the finished models looked like the designs, but where this was not achievable they identified the reasons why. Most managed to keep their axles free, but some did glue them solidly!

Resources

Dowel rod, wheels (bought-in), reclaimed materials for the body, cotton reels (as wheels), paint, plastic straws (to keep the axle free-moving).

Teacher comments

The use of tick-sheets is easier for children to complete successfully.