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Please note
This unit has been replaced by the unit *New* Mechanisms: Levers. It will move to our Content archive in November 2026. It will remain permanently available but will not be updated in line with curriculum or website developments.
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
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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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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.