Developing, Planning and Communicating Ideas

EYFS

By the end of EYFS children will be able to:

• Understand that equipment and tools have to be used safely.
• Show an interest in technological toys with knobs, or pulleys, or real objects.
• Demonstrate skills in making toys work by pressing parts or lifting flaps to achieve effects such as sound, movements or new images.
• Demonstrate understanding of the need for safety when tackling new challenges and consider and manage some risks.
• Show understanding of how to transport and store equipment safely.
• Practice some appropriate safety measures without direct supervision.

Year 1

By the end of Year 1 children will be able to:

• Follow verbal instructions.
• Explain what they are making and which materials they are using.
• Name the tools they are using.
• Describe what they need to do next.
• Select materials from a limited range that will meet the design criteria.
• Model ideas with kits, reclaimed materials.
• Select pictures to help develop ideas.
• Discuss their work as it progresses.

Year 2

By the end of Year 2 children will be able to:

• Select and name tools needed to work the materials.
• Select appropriate techniques explaining first… next… last…
• Use pictures and words to convey what they want to design and make.
• Describe models and drawings of ideas and intentions.
• Use kits/reclaimed materials to develop an idea.
• Use drawings to record ideas as they are developed.
• Add notes to drawing to help explanations.

Year 3

By the end of Year 3 children will be able to:

• Investigate similar products to the one to be made to give starting points for a design.
• Draw/sketch products to help analyse how they are made.
• Think ahead about the order of their work and decide upon tools and materials.
• Plan a sequence of actions to make a product.
• Record the plan by drawing (labelled sketches) or writing.

Year 4

By the end of Year 4 children will be able to:

• Draw/sketch products to help understand how they are made.
• Develop more than one design or adaptation of an initial design.
• Propose realistic suggestions as to how they can achieve their designs.

Year 5

By the end of Year 5 children will be able to:

• Investigate products/images to collect ideas.
• Sketch and model alternative ideas.
• Record ideas using annotated diagrams.
• Make prototypes.
• Use found information to inform decisions.

Year 6

By the end of Year 6 children will be able to:

Year 5 skills with more independence and depth:

• Investigate products/images to collect ideas.
• Sketch and model alternative ideas.
• Record ideas using annotated diagrams.
• Make prototypes.
• Use found information to inform decisions.