Autumn – Fairground (Electrical)

In this unit, the children will get the chance to examine a variety of rotating fairground rides before designing and making their own ride using an electrical motor. There are lots of hands-on activities and design challenges in this 'wheely' great unit! Roll up, roll up for fun at the fair!

Spring – Shelters (Structures)

In this unit, the class will explore different kinds of shelters, their materials, uses and components. They will be given the opportunity to develop their skills in a variety of areas. They will be challenged to use different materials to create stable free-standing objects, looking specifically at how to reinforce structures. They will undertake an investigation to study which materials would be most suitable for a shelter, and finally put their skills to the test as they design, make and evaluate their own shelters.

Summer - Programming Pioneers (Programming)

In this unit, the children will focus on designing, developing, testing and prototyping computer-controlled electronic systems for rooms such as motion-sensor activated alarms, door buzzer entry systems or even ‘smart home’ automatic lights! Have you ever wondered how the electrical products all around us work? They will consider this and many other questions about computer-controlled products as they discover how simple computer systems may be constructed and programmed to make products work. As well as working with electronic components and computer programming software, your children will learn all about influential computer scientists through history who have shaped the world around us. Not only that, but there are opportunities to make prototype models using DT materials OR 3-D CAD software to help develop ideas or to give inspirational product demonstrations!