Design Technology - Photograph Frames (Lower Key Stage 2)

This unit of work forms part of the PrimaryDT scheme of work that features over 60 units of work designed to deliver outstanding outcomes for primary school children in design technology.
This unit of work has been revised and updated for 2026 and is based on delivering six sessions of design technology that are guided by high quality presentation slides accompanied by all the resources that are needed to deliver the lessons, including a knowledge organiser.

Comprehensive medium-term planning that includes
• Unit overview and sequence of learning
• Prior learning needed and links to other curriculum areas
• Learning statements (from our curriculum pathway document)
• List of resources and background information to support teaching and learning
• Key vocabulary for the unit of work
• Teaching activities (investigative and focus tasks)
• Teaching activities (designing and making)
• Advice for challenge and support strategies
• Assessment indicators that children are keeping up with the curriculum

Accompanying this revised unit is further information about the scheme of work and the progression chart and vocabulary list used when creating the scheme of work.

Photograph Frames is a Design Technology unit of work aimed primarily at children aged 7-9.

Design Brief: Design and make a free-standing photo frame for a specific theme, person or celebration.

Sequence of Learning for Teachers
In this unit of work children learn about creating a wooden framework that is used to create a free-standing photograph frame. They investigate how frames are constructed so that they are strong and stable, and the different techniques that allow them to be free-standing. They apply this technical knowledge when designing and making their own wooden photograph frame using the Jinks method. Children learn about ideas of theming and decorating products and apply this knowledge to their own photograph frame.

This knowledge, skills and understanding is delivered through the following six sessions:

1. Investigate 1: Investigating Photo Frames
2. Investigate 2 - Understanding Structures & Focus Task 1 – Making Photo Frames
3. Investigate 3 – Understanding Theming
4. Design & Make: Frame Designer
5. Design & Make: Frame Maker
6. Evaluation Session
   Prior to the beginning of this unit of work, children should have chosen/taken the photograph that they are designing their frame for.

Some activities / sessions can be re-arranged or delivered in different ways in the learning sequence to allow for whole-class teaching and/or small adult-led sessions to take place at the same time.