Water pushes upwards with a force called ‘upthrust’. (You can feel this if you try to push a light object such as a balloon or aeroboard under water). The shape of a ‘boat’ affects the weight (passengers/cargo) it can hold. The more water that the boat displaces the more it will float and therefore the more weight...

In this activity, aimed at primary-aged pupils, children will design a coronation throne for the coronation of King Charles III that incorporates modern technologies. Pupils will also think about how to communicate their design ideas using sketches, notes and annotations.

This resource from the IET is one of a series of resources designed to allow learners to use the theme of the men’s football World Cup to develop their knowledge and skills in design and technology. The resource focuses on designing a kit for a national team that will be playing in the Qatar 2022 men’s football...

Written by the IET, this resource celebrates Diwali, the festival of lights, by making rangolis/kolams. These are bright and colourful designs that are usually made on the floor, or on a board which can be moved to where they are displayed. They are placed to welcome the Hindu Goddess Lakshmi - the Goddess of...

In this activity learners will make use of the theme of World War 2 to learn about the ‘Dig for Victory' campaign and how it was used during the war. They will then design their own garden, considering the types of fruit and vegetables that could be grown within it.

This activity could be used as a main...

From the Nuffield Foundation, these resources offer a wide range of ideas that will encourage primary children to think about the design and production of different items.

The activities range in their degree of difficulty and help young children to develop basic skills such as cutting, drawing and sticking...

This resource, aimed at upper primary, links to the topics of forces and earth and space. Children design and make foam rockets. They then carry out investigations using the rockets, such as how the angle of launch affects the distance travelled.

The resource contains notes on running the activity,...

The Design and Technology Association supports and champions design and technology education in schools. They aim to provide teachers with the tools, knowledge and information they need to become more effective, more experienced and more efficient, with access to expert opinions and high quality resources.

This progression framework has been developed by the Design and Technology Association in collaboration with the National Curriculum Expert Group for D&T. The framework explains the progression steps for students' knowledge, understanding and skills. The aim is to help teachers to plan activities which build on...

A report from the National Curriculum Council (NCC). The final proposals published in June 1989 added considerable detail to the new approach, and made some minor alterations to the Attainment Targets.
There are four main sections in this document:
1. Design and technology in the National Curriculum...

The 1995 National Curriculum Revisions for Design and Technology, which defines the much simplified Programmes of Study (PoS) for each Key Stage and the level descriptions for AT1 and AT2. The requirements for Information Technology were separated and published separately.

By this stage it had become clear...

These materials, from the Nuffield Foundation, contain a wealth of ideas and practical advice on the delivery of design and technology in the primary curriculum. Each of the resources includes extensive teacher guidance as well as chidlren's stimulus materials. The materials cover a range of topics in which...

This Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) document contains the 2004 revision of the Design and Technology National Curriculum. As with previous documents, there were no substantial revisions, and none at all to the Attainment Target statements. The role of CAD-CAM and new materials continued to be...

The 1999 edition of the Design and Technology National Curriculum included set out clearly the programmes of study and attainment targets for Key Stages One to Four. It sets out the importance of design and technology education to students' performance across the curriculum in promoting social, moral and cultural...

Children and young people need attractive, accessible school buildings.  ‘Inclusive’ design can enable and empower those with SEN and disabilities to participate fully in life at school and in the wider community. This building bulletin draws together information to help everyone involved in designing these schools...