Mechanisms- Wheels and axles
Prior learning
• Assembled vehicles with moving wheels using construction kits.
• Explored moving vehicles through play.
• Gained some experience of designing, making and evaluating products for a specified user and purpose.
• Developed some cutting, joining and finishing skills with card.
Designing
• Generate initial ideas and simple design criteria through talking and using own experiences.
• Develop and communicate ideas through drawings and mock-ups.
Making
• Select from and use a range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks such as cutting and joining to allow movement and finishing.
• Select from and use a range of materials and components such as paper, card, plastic and wood according to their characteristics.
Evaluating
• Explore and evaluate a range of products with wheels and axles.
• Evaluate their ideas throughout and their products against original criteria.
Technical knowledge and understanding
• Explore and use wheels, axles and axle holders.
• Distinguish between fixed and freely moving axles.
• Know and use technical vocabulary relevant to the project.
Key Stage 1
Through a variety of creative and practical activities, pupils should be taught the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to engage in an iterative process of designing and making. They should work in a range of relevant contexts [for example, the home and school, gardens and playgrounds, the local community, industry and the wider environment].
When designing and making, pupils should be taught to:
Design
design purposeful, functional, appealing products for themselves and other users
based on design criteria generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through talking, drawing,
templates, mock-ups and, where appropriate, information and communication technology
Make
select from and use a range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks [for example, cutting, shaping, joining and finishing]
select from and use a wide range of materials and components, including construction
materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their characteristics
Evaluate
explore and evaluate a range of existing products
evaluate their ideas and products against design criteria
Technical knowledge
build structures, exploring how they can be made stronger, stiffer and more stable
explore and use mechanisms [for example, levers, sliders, wheels and axles], in their products
vehicle, wheel, axle, axle holder, chassis, body, cab assembling, cutting, joining, shaping, finishing, fixed, free, moving, mechanism names of tools, equipment and materials used