DT Day: Mechanisms

This DT day we did things a little differently… The theme was ‘Mechanical Structures’ and ‘Mechanisms’. Each year group had a different brief, however it was their knowledge of mechanisms being put to the test.

In Year 1, the children started the day by looking at different ‘pop up’ books and ‘sliders’ in books and on cards. The children were then briefed to create their own story book about Humpty Dumpty with moving parts. The children worked mostly independently to create their pop up books using split pins and levers with confidence!

In Year 2, the children were put into groups and asked to create a Ferris wheel. We looked at some world renowned Ferris wheels and tried to work out what would be the best way to put one together. The children had a wide selection of materials to choose from to get going. The children identified the right objects for an axel and a wheel and away they went. By the end of the day we had 10 turning Ferris wheels featuring little egg box cut outs for little cut out people to take a ride in!

Year 3 were working with pneumatic toys. Each child used a recycled box, a tube, a balloon and a lot of imagination! The children first worked out the mechanics of how their box (turned animal/person) would open and close with the use of the balloon and tube. They then decorated their boxes to bring them to life! They enjoyed showing their work to the Year 2s and explaining the making process.

Year 4 created slingshot cars using lolly sticks, elastic bands, paper, dowels and cardboard wheels. Some of the stages were quite fiddly but we were pleased with our cars and even got a chance to race each other!!​

Year 5 had a fabulous day creating pop-up storybooks inspired by our class text: The Boy in The Tower. The children designed and made their own books, focusing on different pop-up structures and range of mechanical systems. We are looking forward to our next DT episode…

Year 6 were given the task of making automata toys. The design brief was to create a mechanical display for the window of a shop to draw customers in, so the children had free reign to let their creative juices flow. With their plans in mind, they used hand saws to cut jelutong (wooden sticks) and dowel to carefully measured lengths, a drill to bore a couple of holes for an axel and hot glue gun to create a frame. ‘Cams’ and ‘followers’ were created to turn the rotary motion of the cam shaft into linear motion. The children learn lots about the design process as well as technical vocabulary and fabrication skills too.