DESIGN TECHNOLOGY IN THE PRIMARY SCHOOL

TASKS INVOLVING GRAPHIC DESIGN, PACKAGING, AND THE DECORATION OF SURFACES

There are numerous design situations that young children can cope with that would normally be the type of project handled by a professional commercial or graphic designer. The following list gives a few examples. These are more appropriate for Y5 and Y6 but give younger pupils a piece of paper and felt tips or wax crayons and they will create imagery of some sort.

DESIGN A POSTER
Select a topical event such as Bonfire Night, Halloween, Christmas Party, Invitation to Teddy Bear's Picnic or alternatively a visit to Butterfly World, Aquarium, Wildfowl Park with familiar imagery and design a poster for the event.

DESIGN A SMALL GIFT BOX
Carefully take apart a cube or similar package for OXO or BOVRIL Cubes to see how the various surfaces and flaps fold and fit together. Make a network of the surfaces so that others can understand how it fits together. Re-design the lid and sides of the box to make a gift for a friend..

DESIGN A CHIP CONE OR CARTON
Use a paper cone as the body of a container to hold small sweets, Smarties, Jellytots, Licorice Allsorts, Mints, etc. and decorate the surfaces with suitable colours and shapes. Include some form of a lid or cover.
Alternatively use a Tube from Smarties or Pringles and make a paper roll to fit around the tube. Decorate this in some way to hold pencils or a present for Xmas

DESIGN A POP-UP CARD
Many children's story books have moving or pop-up parts which stand out from the page when the book is opened. Design a card with a simple mechanism that pops up when the card is opened, or with a part of the card which slides along showing a hidden object or picture.

DESIGN A POSTCARD OR ENVELOPE
Having visited a country or culture as part of an ongoing theme or topic, make a postcard to send back from Ancient Egypt, Australia, Romans, or similar place. Alternatively decorate the outside of an envelope (similar to a first day cover) that would be bought by a stamp collector.

DESIGN A CARRIER BAG OR CONTAINER
Similar to those used by rail travellers, bought at the buffet car, or one of the fast food chains. Imagery could be birds, insects, flowers, fish, reptiles etc. Familiar subjects.

DESIGN A CARTOON STRIP OR STORYBOARD
Choose a simple story with several distinct parts or stages. Make a series of pictures in a line like a strip of film showing the beginning, middle and ending of the story.

DESIGN A PACKAGE FOR A PRESENT OF SOCKS, GLOVES OR A TIE
Using a simple card network for the package, decorate the surfaces.
(Diagram A)

DESIGN A PYRAMID CARD
To decorate the Christmas Tree.
(Diagram B)

DESIGN A PERSONAL SLEEVE OR WALLET FOR ART OR HOMEWORK
This provides an opportunity for designing a personal folder that could be used for taking work from school to home, or for storing work at school-- easily recognisable by pupil, parents and teachers.
(Diagram C)