Resistant Materials

Exam Board: AQA

Course: Design Technology: Resistant Materials (8552)

Teacher of Resistant Materials:  Mr. C. Stopher

VISION

Create, Design & Make

Giving students the POWER to change the world

Intent - Curriculum

What students will need to know and be able to do by the end of KS3:

• To independently develop ideas when designing, making and creating.
• To have the power to realise intentions through developing the relevant skills, knowledge and understanding.

Developing skills – regularly re-visited and built upon in sequential learning projects (across faculty and over years)

Developing knowledge (through teacher modelling, revisiting, experiential and personal experience)

Develop Understanding through exploring, experimenting, inventing, creating, evaluating

• To value the subjects and create lifelong love of practical subjects, design, cuisine and culture

Introduction

All pupils at KS3 follow each discipline on a rotated basis spending at least 6 weeks in each area.

At KS4, pupils opt for one of the disciplines to continue their studies for the next two years, building upon the knowledge and understanding gained at KS3.

PROGRAMME OF STUDY

Each subject programme of study will:

• Provide a clear and coherent learning journey
• Foster subject-based understanding of new knowledge, concepts and methods
• Ensure students acquire knowledge and give opportunities for recall and application of this knowledge so that fluency is developed
• Require students to think and reason for themselves
• Explanations and resources enable students to engage with and master learning
• Learning should develop a depth of understanding that brings richness to the subject but also a breadth of understanding that enriches wider life and learning
• Develop a readiness for the next stage: be this the next lesson, the next unit of work, the next year or key stage; it prepares students for both academic, A Level, and future degree study, or vocational learning
• Contain appropriate, regular and robust assessment methods for measuring student progress and to allow intervention where progress is not as expected.

In order to see an overview of the sequence and progression of learning please see their Programme of Study:

    Resistent Materials Programme of Study

Key Stage 3

KS3 pupils study all disciplines within technology and also Art on a rotation. Pupils spend approximately six weeks in each area.

Year 7 – students make a wooden puppet with packaging and make a bridge in teams using art straws as part of a structures project.

Year 8 – students learn about electronics by making a small night light. Students also learn how to produce isometric and orthographic drawings. They also make door wedges and land yachts in teams.  They also make spin out machines.

Year 9 – students develop their plastic manufacturing techniques by making an acrylic clock. Students also make a wooden toy and pewter cast keyrings in order to learn about a range of materials and practical processes. 

Content:

Resistant Materials involves students designing and making products using a variety of materials, including wood, plastic and metal.  It includes the use of computers and CAD/CAM, in particular use of the laser cutter.  It is a natural extension of resistant materials work previously covered during year 9 and gives students the opportunity to solve realistic problems and extend their practical and design skills.

Year 10

Students build up drawing, ICT, and practical skills through mini projects including making a small wooden box and a mechanical toy made from acrylic and an animal push along toy.  In January of year 10, students start controlled assessment, and by the end of the summer term will have all design and practical work done. 

Year 11

Students prepare for the examination at the end of year 11 through theory and small design and make projects.  Examples of projects include an mp3 docking station, tealight holder made from acrylic and a metal casting project.

Assessment:

The GCSE consists of TWO assessments:-

Controlled assessment project (60%)

Pupils must undertake a project up to a maximum of 40 hours.  Students must produce a 3D product and a 20 page design folder produced mainly using ICT facilities.  Past projects have included mechanical toys for young children, and lighting.

Exam (40%)

Students will be tested on designing products, materials, manufacture processes, environmental issues, health and safety.  This is a written exam, although the first part will be a design question based on a theme set by the exam board (AQA).