Please note
This unit has been replaced by the unit *New* Mechanisms: Levers.
This unit’s theme is based on how to make a moving monster. For guidance on how to adapt the unit to the alternative theme of ‘Easter – Mechanical animals’, please visit the theme page here.
Unit outcomes
Pupils who are secure will be able to:
- Identify the correct terms for levers, linkages and pivots.
- Analyse popular toys with the correct terminology.
- Create functional linkages that produce the desired input and output motions.
- Design monsters suitable for children, which satisfy most of the design criteria.
- Evaluate their two designs against the design criteria, using this information and the feedback of their peers to choose their best design.
- Select and assemble materials to create their planned monster features.
- Assemble the monster to their linkages without affecting their functionality.
Suggested prior learning
Mechanisms: Making a moving storybook
Get started
Lesson plans
Lesson 1: Pivots, levers and linkages
Lesson 2: Making linkages
Lesson 3: Designing my monster
Lesson 4: Making my monster
Key skills
- Creating a design criteria
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Key knowledge
- To know that mechanisms
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Key vocabulary
axle
design criteria
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Equipment list
Equipment needed across all lessons in this unit.
This list does not include equipment which is usually readily available in the classroom (e.g pencils, A4 paper etc)
Download
Full equipment list for the subject
Quantities marked × will update. Items without quantities are unaffected
- Mechanical and non-mechanical objects
- Plasticine
- A5 card ×30
- A selection of Paper fasteners
- Scissors right- and left-handed options recommended. ×30
- Glue ×30
- Colouring pencils ×30
- Masking tape ×1
- Thick and thin card ×30
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Materials for features, such as: cotton wool, wool, foil, buttons, pipe cleaners, lolly sticks
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Related content
Unit resources
Knowledge organiser – D&T Y2: Moving monster
Aimed at pupils, a single page which gives key facts and definitions from the unit 'Mechanisms: Making a moving monster'.
Vocabulary display – D&T Y2: Mechanisms: making a moving monster
A display version of the vocabulary from the unit 'Making a moving monster'.
Subject resources
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Cross-curricular opportunities
None relevant to this unit.
Build on the learning
ARCHIVED Year 3: Mechanical systems: Pneumatic toys
Pupils build on their knowledge from creating moving monsters, where they explored levers, linkages, and pivots, to apply skills in developing more complex pneumatic systems.
