NAAIDT: NAAIDT Project Exchange: Parasols

Parasols
Trefonen C.E School, Shropshire LEA
Submitted by: Laura Prust

Reception	Whole Class Project	Resistant Materials	Engineering
KS1	Individual Project	Graphics	CADCAM
KS2	Short Task	Food	Catering
KS3	Research and Investigation	Textiles	Fashion
KS4	Enterprise activity	ICT	Electronics
Post 16	Product Analysis	Systems and Control	Structures
Embedding ICT in DT

Lesson Context
This KS2 example was based upon unit 6A from the DFES/QCA scheme of work for D&T. The project was carried out during D&T week with 28 Y6 pupils of mixed ability.

Resources Needed
Large sheets of tissue paper.
Large pieces of light weight material.
Lots and lots of newspaper and masking tape.
Doweling to wind the newspaper around.

Teacher Preparation
Collect various types of umbrellas and parasols for the children to investigate.
Collect lots of newspaper.
If possible have a go at making one yourself first, this way you understand what problems the children will come across when designing and making.
Use of search engines on the Internet to collect examples of parasols used throughout the world.

Project Brief
To design and make a parasol for someone specific to use.

Design and Manufacture
See scheme of work attached.

Expected Outcomes
Each group to produce a parasol for an identified user.

Differentiation
Differentiation was mainly by outcome of the product and written work. I was also fortunate to have a classroom assistant to work with me on the project, so different groups had appropriate amount of help when needed.
I also grouped the children into groups of 4 or 5, each group being of mixed ability and mixed gender. This worked extremely well as each group wanted their product to work and so all members of the group worked together and supported each other throughout the topic.

Classroom Organisation
The project took place in one blocked week for D&T.

Additional Information
This project is great fun but there is a problem with storage if the children are ambitious about size!
It is best completed in the summer term,(if we have any sun!) as the children can work outside.

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