PRIMARY DESIGN TECHNOLOGY
Ensuring outstanding teaching in Design Technology
contact: support@primarydt.com
Soft Toy Tamagotchi (Upper Key Stage 2)
Design Brief: Design and make a sample soft toy that has an electronic display for the MAGIC toy company.
Strand of Learning: Textiles & Computer Program Systems
Overview: In this unit of work children design and make an alien soft toy and combine it with a Microbit controller to create an interactive soft toy. Children learn how Tamagotchi electronic pets were the most popular toy in the 1990s and that many schools banned pupils from bringing them to school. Children use a mood board and computer software to help them design their alien soft toy. They apply their knowledge and skills of joining textile pieces to create a soft toy which they decorate using a range of fabric techniques. As part of their design, they make a small window and pocket to accommodate a BBC Microbit controller. Using their knowledge of block coding they program the Microbit to interact with the user. As part of the project children create packaging and promotional materials for their product.
Gallery
Images from the Lesson Presentation Slides
-
6 x Lesson Presentation Slides
Medium Term Planning includes:
-
6 x lesson overviews
-
Vocabulary List
-
Learning statements linked to Curriculum
-
Support and Challenge
-
Assessment - Keeping up with the curriculum
​
​
Teaching Pack
Curriculum Scope and Sequence
Substantive & Technical Knowledge
Children will know:
-
Creating a prototype of a design is useful for checking ideas and seeing how well they work.
-
How labels and annotated drawings can be used to explain and communicate how a product is made and how it will work.
-
Choosing materials, tools and equipment is dependent upon the skills and techniques to be used.
-
A range of different finishing techniques and choose ones that are suitable to create a quality product.
-
To continually reflect on and evaluate their work throughout the stages of designing and making.
-
That evaluating the whole project is an important part of design technology
​
Materials/Textiles
-
The different properties of materials and how they are considered when designing and making a product.
-
Blanket stitch is used to strengthen edges and when joining to fabrics.
-
The importance of using a template (pattern) to accurately mark out a design on a fabric.
​
Electrical and Program Systems
-
A sensor is a tool that monitors, detects, and responds to changes.
-
Program systems have an input and an output.
-
Microcontrollers are small computer processors that turn inputs into outputs and are controlled through computer code.
Practical Knowledge (skills)
Children will know how to:
-
List the materials and tools that will be needed to make a product they have designed.
Drawing Skills
-
Use computer-aided design software to develop and communicate their ideas.
-
Work responsibly using guidelines to ensure they keep themselves and others safe.
-
Write an action plan for the making process including lists of tools, equipment and materials needed.
-
Accurately assemble, join and combine materials and components to ensure a quality finish to a product.
-
Apply a range of decorative and finishing techniques following the product design.
-
Evaluate a product against specific design specifications.
Materials/Textiles
-
Measure and cut materials with precision and refine the finish with appropriate tools.
-
Join textiles with a combination of stitching techniques (such as blanket stitch, back stitch for seams and running stitch to attach decoration).
-
Create products by joining several fabric pieces that employ a seam allowance.
-
Use the qualities of materials to create suitable visual and tactile effects in the decoration of masks and textile products.
Electrical and Program Systems
-
Write procedures and/or computer code to control and monitor models or products.
-
Make a product device that includes a sensor to monitor change.
-
Make a product that allows the user to control and monitor the device including lights, sounds and motion.