Design Technology - Windows (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.

Design Brief: Design and make a page for the class book inspired by the work of Jeannie Baker

Overview:
In this unit of work children create a page for a class book based on the books created by Jeannie Baker. Each page is a photograph of a window frame that has been made by pairs of children using a simple hinge mechanism. Children use collage techniques to create a view from the window in the style of Jeannie Baker. Children learn about the hinge mechanism which is a simple linkage mechanism of two levers connected by a pivot. Children create a wooden frame for their window and apply their skills of working with cardboard to create the windows. In creating the window children consolidate their knowledge of structures and simple mechanisms and also develop their understanding of how designers use models as part of the designing process.

Sessions:

1. Investigate Task 1: Window by Jeannie Baker
2. Investigate Task 2: Investigating Windows & Focus Task 1 – Model Window
3. Investigate Task 3: Understanding Structures & Focus Task 2 – Making a Window Frame
4. Design and Make: Designing the Window
5. Design and Make: Making the Window
6. Evaluation Session

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.