🛠️ Spring 1 Overview – Year 1

Theme: Design & Technology – Moving Pictures (Levers and Sliders) 🎨📐

This half term, Year 1 will be learning Design and Technology through the exciting project of moving pictures. Children will explore levers and sliders, investigate how they work, and design and make their own moving picture linked to their Geography learning about waterways.

📚 What We Are Learning

During Spring 1, children will:

• Investigate levers and sliders in everyday products

• Explore and evaluate existing moving pictures

• Learn who the intended user is and what makes a product suitable for them

• Develop design criteria to help guide their work

• Draw, label, and colour their own designs

• Make a moving picture using levers and sliders, linked to waterways

• Evaluate their finished product and decide if it is fit for purpose

Children will talk about what worked well and what they might change next time.

🛠️ Skills We Are Developing

Throughout this topic, children will develop:

• Design skills – planning, drawing, and labelling ideas

• Making skills – cutting, shaping, joining, and finishing materials

• Technical skills – creating movement using levers and sliders

• Thinking skills – making choices about materials and designs

• Evaluation skills – reflecting on their work and considering user feedback

• Fine motor skills – improving control and accuracy

🧩 Key Design & Technology Focus

Children will be supported to:

• Identify the intended user for their product

• Explore and evaluate existing products with levers and sliders

• Create clear labelled drawings and design ideas

• Decide on appropriate materials and resources

• Join materials carefully and securely

• Evaluate their work against the design criteria

🏠 How You Can Support at Home

You can help your child by:

• Looking for levers and sliders around the home (e.g. books, packaging, toys)

• Talking about who a product is made for and why

• Encouraging drawing and colouring designs at home

• Helping your child practise cutting and joining with paper and card (with supervision)

• Asking questions such as “Who is this for?” or “Does it do what it is meant to do?”

Thank you for supporting your child’s learning at home. This topic helps children become creative thinkers and confident designers ✂️📦