Design Technology – Mini Greenhouse (Lower Key Stage 2)

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 mini greenhouse to provide the right conditions for growing plants and vegetables all year round.

Sequence of Learning for Teachers

In this project children learn about how greenhouses are used to grow plants and the conditions that are needed for healthy plant growth. Children learn about frame structures and the different techniques that can be used to make them stronger, stiffer, and more stable. Children learn how designers use isometric drawing techniques to draw 3D objects. They use these drawing skills to design a mini greenhouse to grow plants seedlings in. They further their understanding of frame structures by following their design to make a mini greenhouse using the Jinks method of constructing wooden frameworks. As part of the evaluation, they plant and grow seedlings.

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

1. Investigate Task 1: All About Greenhouses & Investigate Task 2: Investigating Frame Structures
2. Investigate Task 3: Understanding Structures & Focus Task 1: Making a Wooden Frame
3. Focus Task 2: Drawing in Three Dimensions
4. Design & Make: Designing Greenhouses
5. Design & Make: Making a Mini Greenhouse
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.