Design & Technology - Year 7

Overview

We challenge students to think, act and speak like those working in the field would. 

We aim to create the very best design literate students who are enquiring, confident and enthusiastic to define and solve problems.

In Year 7, the Design and Technology Department consists of four very different subjects:

  • Food Preparation and Nutrition
  • D&T: Textiles
  • D&T: Timbers, Metals and Polymers
  • D&T: Electronics

 Lessons are taught on a “carousel” basis, so students study one subject area around every eight weeks. 

Content

Year 7 students respond to a range of challenges and develop their confidence and skills in creative problem solving across the different material areas.  The year includes many of the generic skills which are built upon in subsequent years.  


Food, Preparation & Nutrition: Fruit and Veg Health and Nutrition

Students will learn:

  • Hygiene, health and safety in the Food Prep Room
  • Identifying existing knowledge
  • Use of equipment
  • Weighing and measuring
  • The Eat Well Guide/ Healthy Eating Guidelines
  • Excess and deficiency in the diet
  • Alternatives to sugar
  • Knife skills/ techniques
  • The ‘rubbing in’ method
  • Recipe/ ingredient planning
  • Evaluating practical work
  • Practical lessons – Fruit smoothie, 1 pot salad, fruit crumble, scones & alternative sugar investigation


D&T: Textiles – Juggling Balls

Students will learn:

  • Health and safety training in the Design Studio
  • Natural fibres and their properties: cotton, silk, wool
  • Textiles equipment, machines and tools
  • Fabric construction: weaving
  • Joining methods
  • Manufacturing methods
  • Cutting and pressing methods
  • Sustainability: recycle, repurpose and reuse
  • Environmental issues within the textiles industry


D&T: Timbers and Polymers – USB Lamp

  • Students will learn:
  • Health and safety training in the Workshop
  • What ACCESS FM is
  • How to produce a design idea
  • How to develop ideas using feedback
  • How to use CAD/CAM: 2D Design and laser cutter
  • About the tools and equipment available to work with woods safely
  • How to solder electronic components
  • How to achieve a quality finish on timbers and the importance of this
  • How to successfully evaluate a product and find strengths and weaknesses


D&T: Electronics – convert solar energy into kinetic energy to power a small racing car

Students will learn:

  • Health and safety training in the CAD Room
  • Sustainability: renewable power
  • Finite resources
  • Environmental issues
  • Electronic components and their function
  • Logo and font design
  • Teamwork

Homework

Regular homework is set to promote learning beyond the classroom and this helps students to prepare for future lessons and solidify knowledge. For part of this homework students explore spiritual, moral, cultural and social development around the world and this links closely to the NHGS ethos and values. 

Assessment

Students will receive regular assessment during each term and this includes a diagnostic assessment via Google Forms.  Students practice self-quizzing techniques using their knowledge organiser and this helps them to retain knowledge and information covered within each material area.   

Summative written feedback on completed work is provided at the end of each unit, before students rotate to their next material area.  Feedback identifies achievement and suggests areas and methods for improvement, and new objectives for progress.  Students are given the opportunity to both peer and self-reflect on their work during and at the end of the project. 

Useful Links and Information


D&T: Textiles


Food Preparation and Nutrition


D&T: Woods, metals and polymers


D&T: Electronics