Year 8 Overview

In Year 8 students have an increased allocation of DT lessons and this provides the opportunity for all of the basic skills introduced in Year 7 to be further developed, as well as the addition of several new designing and making opportunities.

Projects Include:

Door Hanger Signage

This is a project which improves students marking out skills using a range of hand tools, requires extensive use of templates and teaches them about the selection and application of appropriate finishing techniques. It is a project that is being further enhanced by increased ICT provision and the use of the Laser Cutter to manufacture small, accurate design features to attach to the main hanger shape.

Confectionary Packaging

The Confectionary Packaging project is an ICT based exercise which develops students planning and designing skills through the use of the ‘Corel Draw’ and ‘Adobe Photoshop’ computer software programmes. The project also helps them to understand the concepts of translating 2D designs into 3D forms through the use of card nets. CAD/CAM is used extensively to help make their finished pieces and give them a professional feel.

Lightbox Display

The Lightbox project is another skills based exercise that provides a basic introduction to metal working using aluminium. Students learn how to mark out, cut, edge finish, drill and bend aluminium. The project also incorporates a simple electronic circuit and some computer aided design work to personalise the students work.

Torch Projector

The Torch Projector is new project that has been developed to make full use of the Laser Cutters. It increases students’ awareness of batch and mass production techniques through extensive use of CAD/CAM, vacuum forming and the development of jigs and templates. This is a team working project and students learn how to make design and making decisions in small groups before each producing an identical product to take home.

Year Eight Food

In year eight students look at global issues including fair trade and staple foods. They then design and make a range of products working in groups and individually. Students also have the opportunity to enter the Sainsbury’s ‘Active Kids Get Cooking’ awards.

The main assessed project is on ‘Fusion Foods’ Students are asked to design and make a pasta pot.

Technology day involves all year eights and the whole D.T. department is involved in designing a product from start to finish.

Year Eight Textiles

In textiles students design and make a wind sock and then their own individual ‘Beanie Babe’ The students then work in groups to produce a batch of one of their beanie ideas.