11-16 Years
The focus of Junior School Design & Technology is very much aimed towards developing an understanding of the basics of the subject. Through creative involvement and practical experiences the Junior School pupils receive a broad understanding and a 'taster' of what is to follow at both KS3 and KS4. Junior School pupils clearly enjoy the experiences of being in the Senior School workshops to complete a range of Focused Practical Tasks (FPT).
Lessons at the start of Upper Shell D&T include a workshop tour where the important aspects of workshop safety and the 'Code of Conduct' are explained. Pupils will then begin to work in a variety of resistant materials and using designing and making skills to complete their FPT's.
The Michaelmas term is spent designing and making 'Wooden Pencil Boxes'. Pupils learn about the different types of wood materials and the ways in which they may be worked and joined. A number of hand and machine tools are used with pupils being encouraged to work independently after extensive and detailed demonstrations are given. Pupils design a range of ideas for the tops of their boxes prior to selecting their favourite design for final decoration.
Plastics are used to create 'Spiral Bag Tags' where pupils learn about the properties of a range of plastics and the processes used to form them. Much fun is had in these 'one off' lessons where pupils select, clean up and heat strips of coloured acrylic before claming and twisting them into a dynamic and much admired product. (5th form pupils are often desperate to get their hands on these ... much to the Juniors delight when showing them off around the school!!)
The final project of the year is to create a 'Bird Feeder' using pine. Pupils continue to learn about joining woods but also cover aspects of forming metals and a variety of more complex hand and machine based practical activities.
Mr Gadd, the Upper Shell D&T Teacher, will continue to develop new and creatively enjoyable projects for the Junior School pupils to produce. Keep an eye on this page for news and photos of these projects as they develop.
