Rainbow Federation

We decided to carry out the City of the Future Project with our Y6 children as Mr D Guinee the Science and Technology Cluster Lead currently resides in Year 6 in our school. We are a two form entry school and so we carried out the project across two classes over a three week period. We began the project by undertaking a local area walk to view the buildings that reside in our local area. The children identified many key buildings in our area including Eastern Leisure Centre, Countisbury Shops, a library, community centre and of course our school. The children looked for modern technology that already existed in our local area such as solar panels and wind turbines. As part of our walk we also observed a new residential site being built on the old Eastern High Site in Rumney.

In class the pupils chose one of the buildings they would like to re-design with a futuristic take on the design. The pupils then worked in small groups to agree on a final design for their buildings. The children made prototypes of their final designs using art straws to gain a perspective on the size of their buildings. The children evaluated as they went along and made changes to their designs as appropriate. We recognised as a school that our design and technology resources needed replenishing and an order was placed for the materials would need in order to complete the project. The order included mini solar panels (TTS) in order to add a level of authenticity to our projects.

The pupils spent the first week planning their designs and exploring how solar panels and wind turbines work as well as exploring electricity circuits. The following week the children worked collaboratively to create their buildings. The children used the structures projects on a page resource to learn how to reinforce joints and to create solid structures. The children then used their creativity to make their models look more realistic and included working solar panels and electricity circuits as part of their models.

In the final week the children made Google Slides presentations and we filmed video presentations explaining their models. These were then incorporated into their presentations. The videos and images were then shared via this page. The children also completed individual evaluations of their products and an online Google Form for the Science & technology Lead for the cluster. The results of which are published on the Evaluation page of this website.

The children really enjoyed the project and gained valuable skills from the New Curriculum not least the skills from the design and technology aspects of the AoLE. Having undertaken this project we can see how the skills across the AoLE can be used inclusively to undertake a project of this nature and how it can be twisted in the future. Ideas we have discussed as a group are designing homes for wildlife in our school grounds, creating ramps to be used in science activities or structures for use in other AoLE's.