Exciting new projects to kick the year off in DT and DDR

We have kicked off the year with some new and exciting projects in Design and Technology at Hazlegrove.

Students have been using the new laser cutter and other facilities to produce some fantastic products that undoubtedly will be Christmas gifts. Years 5-7 have been introduced to a new area of the curriculum; DDR (Digital Design Realisation) which involves computer based designing and manufacturing. Students have been working on Techsoft 2D design software, learning how to vectorise and export their work, with a live feed from the laser cutter to the ICT suite as their work is cut out. We have been making 3D photo-frames, rulers, bookmarks, key rings, door plaques, to name just a few.

Students in the workshop have been working with the new sublimation printing facilities that allow us to print directly onto acrylic and wood to produce some beautiful work. Year 8 have made some stunning clocks (that I would definitely buy!) and some have been working on developing some Hazlegrove cricket stumps and flashing bales which is exciting and challenging them no end! Years 7 have been working as Engineers putting their maths skills into practice with precision and accuracy when working with aluminium.

DT clubs on Tuesdays and Fridays are busy; we are working with wood and hand-tools to make toys and instruments and generally enjoy creating a lot of noise and dust!

Years 3 and 4 have been working with smart Textiles to produce cushions using CAD to create stencils that they then painted with Thermochromic (heat disappearing) paint and linked it with how this is used in the car manufacturing industry. We also applied some science with our molecular-displacement dyeing.

All in all an extremely busy and exciting start to the year in DT. The children have all been excited to utilise the new fantastic facilities in the DT department, we have had great fun and they have all worked extremely hard. I am immensely grateful to all the children for being so amazingly welcoming and their enthusiasm for the subject is incredible. 

Mrs Barton

Do please scroll through the pictures below or click here to view them in Flickr