Unit Summary: In year 9 D&T (design and technology) lessons learners complete two skills based units. The main focus in year 9 is to consolidate learners understanding of a range of D&T skills/concepts. Big ideas are introduced to learners in year 9, such as the use of new/emerging technologies where learners are given the opportunity to use 3D printing pens. Alongside the big ideas taught, a range of future you opportunities are present such as exploring the area of game design where learners are given the opportunity to design their own game.

Knowledge

(Curriculum content)

Year 9 D&T is split into two main areas, these are:

Mainly Designing - learners develop their design skill in order to produce 3D design ideas, such as oblique, isometric and perspective drawings. Learners also develop their shading/rendering skills to aid the effective communication of design ideas.

Mainly Making - learners produce a wooden maze incorporating a range of making skills, learners are given the choice of which joining technique they wish to use and are able to use emerging technologies in the form of 3D printing pens to enhance their products.

Academic Literacy

During year 9 D&T lessons, learners will have the opportunity to develop their academic literacy through both practical and non-practical tasks. Learners will consolidate a range of key academic literacy and will be given the opportunities to apply their skills through a great range of whole class discussions at the start/end of lessons and through more formal written academic focused tasks present throughout each unit.

What should learning look like at the end of a unit?

At the end of a successful year 9 D&T unit learners should have a mixture of design, written and practical outcomes completed. This includes producing a range of 3D drawings using many design techniques and making a wooden maze which will be enhanced using 3D printing pens to make the design more aesthetically pleasing. Learning will be assessed using the support, core and extend model. Learners that are assessed as support are often developing their confidence in using D&T principles/equipment, whereas learners that are assessed in the extend category are often further on in showcasing their confidence and independent working skills.

Assessment Activity

There are many opportunities for formative assessment throughout year 9 D&T lessons in the form of self/peer/teacher assessment. Learners are then offered a summative assessment based on their designing and making skills. Learners are given a range of summative feedback on their design skills in a timely manner to allow for improvements and refinements to be made. Learners are then given a final summative assessment of their practical work based on the practical outcome that has been produced.