Linking Design and Technology (D&T) across the curriculum provides opportunities for students to apply their knowledge, skills, and creativity in meaningful contexts. Here are some ways we integrate D&T with other subjects:

• Science

  • Forces and Mechanisms: Design and create vehicles or machines that incorporate levers, pulleys, and gears to explore scientific principles.
  • Materials and Their Properties: Investigate materials for strength, waterproofing, or insulation by designing shelters or clothing for specific climates.
  • Electricity: Create simple circuits to power a light or motor in a D&T project, such as building a model lighthouse.

• Mathematics

  • Measurement: Use rulers, protractors, and other tools to measure materials accurately during construction.
  • Geometry: Explore shapes and angles by designing and building 3D models.
  • Data Handling: Collect and analyze data (e.g., which materials are most effective for a particular purpose).

• Literacy

  • Writing Instructions: Link D&T projects with literacy by writing step-by-step instructions or user guides for their creations.
  • Storytelling: Design and create props, puppets, or models related to stories or class novels.
  • Persuasive Writing: Develop advertisements or presentations to "sell" their designs.

• History

  • Historical Artefacts: Recreate tools, clothing, or structures from historical periods being studied (e.g., Roman catapults or Viking longboats).
  • Cultural Influences: Explore how design and technology evolved during different historical periods.

• Geography

  • Sustainable Design: Design products using recycled materials and explore the environmental impact of production.
  • Shelters and Structures: Create models of homes suited to different climates or geographical areas (e.g., igloos or stilt houses).
  • Maps and Navigation: Design compasses or create 3D map models using their design skills.

• Art

  • Design Aesthetics: Incorporate artistic skills into the design process, focusing on color, pattern, and form.
  • Collaborative Projects: Combine D&T and art to create installations or large-scale models.

• Computing

  • Programming: Use coding to control devices or robots created in D&T projects (e.g., programming a microcontroller like a Micro:bit to add movement or light).
  • Digital Design: Use design software to plan projects before constructing them physically.

• Physical Education (PE)

  • Sports Equipment: Design and test prototypes for sports or fitness equipment.
  • Obstacle Courses: Create and build small-scale models of obstacle courses or play equipment.

• Music

  • Instrument Design: Design and build simple musical instruments that explore sound and vibration.
  • Soundscapes: Create objects that contribute to a sound project, such as wind chimes or percussion instruments.

• PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education)

  • Healthy Eating: Plan and prepare healthy meals or snacks as part of a food technology project.
  • Community Projects: Design items to support community initiatives, such as fundraising products or garden designs.

Benefits of Cross-Curricular D&T

• Encourages real-world application of knowledge.
• Develops problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.
• Promotes teamwork and creativity.
• Makes learning engaging and relevant.