Learning objective
- To explore wide or narrow bases by building towers.
Success criteria
- I can explain why some structures are more
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National curriculum
Design and technology
Design
Pupils
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Cross-curricular links
Science
Everyday materials
Pupils should
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Before the lesson
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Lesson plan
Recap and recall
Explain that the children will work with a partner to remember what they learnt in the previous lesson. Arrange the children in pairs. Display the Presentation: High five! and read it aloud. Allow time for paired discussion.
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Extended-mode explainer videos
How to extend your display to view the lesson page and presentation mode simultaneously. Choose your operating system below to watch the video
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Extended-mode explainer video: For Mac
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Adaptive teaching
Pupils needing extra support
Could use sticky tack or masking tape to hold the blocks together when building the three towers; could use a range of objects of a similar shape or size to build the most stable tower.
Pupils working at greater depth
Should explain their design choices, explaining stability in all directions; should justify why heavier or larger objects are placed at the bottom of the tower.
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Assessing progress and understanding
Pupils with secure understanding indicated by: explaining that the towers with a
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Vocabulary definitions
-
freestanding
Can stand up on its own.
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height
How tall something or someone is.
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In this unit
Maintained by: Kapow Primary team
Last update: 27th March, 2026
Lesson 1: What are some of the UK’s amazing features and landmarks?
Identifying features and major geographical characteristics of the UK and locating these on a map.
Lesson 3: Stabilising structures with weight
Exploring how adding weight to different parts of a structure can make it more or...
Lesson 4: Designing a stable pencil pot
Designing a stable pencil pot for a specific user.
Lesson 5: Making a stable pencil pot
Making a stable and appealing pencil pot for a specific user.
