Through a variety of creative and practical activities, the children are taught the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to engage in an iterative process of designing and making. They work in a range of relevant contexts e.g. the home and school, gardens and playgrounds, the local community, industry and the wider environment. 

When designing and making, they are taught to:

Design

• design purposeful, functional, appealing products for themselves and other users based on design criteria
• generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through talking, drawing, templates, mock-ups and, where appropriate, information and communication technology

Make

• select from and use a range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks e.g. cutting, shaping, joining and finishing
• select from and use a wide range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their characteristics

Evaluate

• explore and evaluate a range of existing products
• evaluate their ideas and products against design criteria

Technical knowledge

• build structures, exploring how they can be made stronger, stiffer and more stable
• explore and use mechanisms e.g. levers, sliders, wheels and axles, in their products

By doing this the children develop an understanding of the properties of both natural and man-made materials.  They develop the craft skills needed to achieve their aims.  They are taught to test and evaluate their work, and to compare their finished products to their design plans.  The children will also be taught to use the basic principles of a healthy and varied diet to prepare dishes and understand where food comes from.