Focus: Mechanics – Wheels and Axles
Linked Learning: Geography – Touring the UK
This term in Design & Technology, Year 1 pupils will be exploring simple mechanical systems as they learn how to design and build their own moving vehicles!
Linking closely with our Geography topic, "Touring the UK," children will imagine they are designing vehicles that could travel around the different countries and landmarks of the United Kingdom.
Designing Vehicles
Explore different types of vehicles and their features
Think about what makes a vehicle suitable for travel around the UK
Design a simple vehicle with specific features (e.g., number of wheels, shape, size)
Wheels and Axles
Learn what wheels and axles are and how they work
Investigate how wheels help objects move
Explore how to attach wheels securely to allow smooth movement
Making the Vehicle
Use a range of tools and materials safely
Follow their design plans to construct their own model vehicle
Develop cutting, joining, and assembling skills
Testing and Evaluating
Test their vehicles to see how well they move
Identify what worked well and what could be improved
Talk about how they could make their design even better
Planning and designing with a purpose
Selecting and using tools and materials appropriately
Understanding basic mechanics (wheels and axles)
Reflecting on and improving their work
Look at different vehicles together – bikes, cars, buses, etc. – and talk about how the wheels help them move
Build simple models at home with LEGO, recycled materials, or construction toys
Talk about different places in the UK your child might want their vehicle to visit
Encourage problem-solving if a model doesn’t quite work the first time – it's all part of the learning!