Design and Technology brings together a host of ‘technologies’, which includes graphics, resistant materials (wood, metal, plastics), food technology, textiles and electronics. At school, children will spend a period of time on each during KS2 and KS3 with some opting to study one of the subjects for GCSE or A Level (or the equivalent options within Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland). For more detail, take a look at the Design and Technology Association (www.data.org.uk/foreducation/ curriculum), which provides a link to the National Curriculum programme of study for Design and Technology. Select Education, then Primary or Secondary. It also links to the National Curriculum for Wales, the curriculum area ‘Technologies’ for Scotland and the National Curriculum for Science, Technology and Design for Northern Ireland.

The learning resources below provide a range of materials from organisations such as the Design Museum and STEM Learning. There are further additional resources for Food Technology – looking at food production and food nutrition – and Textiles – looking at fabric production and garment design.

Learning resources and activities

Avoncroft Museum: online resources

www.avoncroft.org.uk/online-resources

Avoncroft Museum is home to 30 historic buildings. It has an interesting set of downloadable resources for four different buildings: a 15th century town house; a 1946 prefab; a 1790 windmill; and a 1576 Tudor timber framed building. An unusual learning resource that includes templates to create a model of each building and could be incorporated into design topics.

Brand evolution: learning resource

www.museumofbrands.com/online-resources

A useful resource looking at brand design for GCSE students from the Museum of Brands.

The Design Museum

www.designmuseum.org/the-design-museum-campus/schoolsandcolleges

This has an excellent collection of online lesson plans and downloadable PDF design activities, including resources for GCSE and above. All aim to make students consider related design projects and to inspire creativity. They include a kitchen re-design; re-using rubbish; and environmentally friendly packaging, amongst others.

National Geographic Kids: Design And Technology resources

www.natgeokids.com/uk/teacher-category/technology

A selection of downloadable resources for KS2 on significant design and technological developments that have shaped our world.

Plastics: GCSE learning resources

www.modip.ac.uk/engagement

Select Learning Resources, then GCSE Learning Resources. These downloadable resources from the Museum of Design in Plastics support GCSE Design and Technology knowledge and understanding relating specifically to plastic materials. Excellent.