Design Technology – Ramayana Puppets (Key Stage 1)

This unit of work forms part of the Primary Design Technology scheme of work which features over 60 units of work designed to deliver outstanding outcomes for primary school children in design technology. Each unit contains lesson slides for each session, downloadable resources, planning and a knowledge organiser. Comprehensive medium-term planning includes

• Unit overview and sequence of learning
• Prior learning needed and links to other curriculum areas
• Learning statements (from our curriculum pathway document)
• List of resources and background information to support teaching and learning
• Key vocabulary for the unit of work
• Teaching activities (investigative and focus tasks)
• Teaching activities (designing and making)
• Advice for challenge and support strategies
• Assessment indicators that children are keeping up with the curriculum

Accompanying this unit is further information about the scheme of work and the progression chart and vocabulary list used when creating the scheme of work.

(Further details and free resources: www.primarydt.com)

Design Brief: Design and make a puppet to tell the story of the Ramayana in a class puppet show.

Sequence of Learning for Teachers

In this unit children make a hand puppet by marking out, cutting and joining pieces of fabric together to create a character from the story of the Ramayana. Children learn about different types of puppets and about some famous puppets such as Sooty and Sweep and the Muppets. They understand that a puppeteer makes the puppet appear alive. They draw a puppet design based on a character from the Ramayana. They learn how to thread a needle and the technique of the simple running stitch. They apply and practise the running stitch to create decorative stitching using Binca material. Stitching two identical templates together they create a basic puppet figure which they then decorate using a range of skills following their puppet design of a character from the Ramayana.

This knowledge, skills and understanding is delivered through the following six sessions:

1. Investigate 1 – Let’s Find Out About Puppets & Focus Task 1 – Starting to Sew
2. Investigate 2 – What makes a Good Puppet?
3. Focus Task 2 – Making a Hand Puppet
4. Design and Make – Designing Your Puppet
5. Design and Make – Making Your Puppet
6. Evaluation Session

Some activities / sessions can be re-arranged or delivered in different ways in the learning sequence to allow for whole-class teaching and/or small adult-led sessions to take place at the same time.