1. Content archive >
  2. Design and technology > Lower key stage 2 > ARCHIVED Year 3: Mechanical systems: Pneumatic toys > Lesson 1: Exploring pneumatics
Bell

This is archived.

Learning objective

  • To understand how pneumatic systems work.

Success criteria

  • I can recall that mechanisms are a system
Lock

This content is for subscribers only. Join for access today.

Join Log in

National curriculum

Design and technology

Design

Pupils should be

Lock

This content is for subscribers only. Join for access today.

Join Log in

Cross-curricular links

  • None.
Lock

This content is for subscribers only. Join for access today.

Join Log in

Before the lesson

Lock

This content is for subscribers only. Join for access today.

Join Log in

Lesson plan

Recap and recall

As this is the first unit in Key Stage 2 which looks at pneumatic systems and compressing air, there is no knowledge to recap with the children. However, you may want to check that children know that: Mechanisms are a collection of moving parts that work together to cause movement.

Learning objective

Lock

This content is for subscribers only. Join for access today.

Join Log in
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

Mac

Windows

If you need further support with extending your display,
please contact [email protected].

Extended-mode explainer video: For Mac

Extended-mode explainer video: For Windows

Adaptive teaching

Pupils needing extra support:

Could have the experiments repeated or have the equipment set up in front of them.

Pupils working at greater depth:

Should draw, label and explain in greater depth; should provide examples of products that use pneumatic systems.

Lock

This content is for subscribers only. Join for access today.

Join Log in

Assessing progress and understanding

Pupils with secure understanding indicated by: drawing accurate diagrams with correct labels,

Lock

This content is for subscribers only. Join for access today.

Join Log in

Vocabulary definitions

  • component

    A part of a machine.

  • function

    How something works.

Lock

This content is for subscribers only. Join for access today.

Join Log in

In this unit

Assessment - D&T Y3: Mechanical systems: Pneumatic toys

Lesson 1: Exploring pneumatics

Lesson 2: Designing a pneumatic toy

Lesson 3: Making pneumatic toys

Lesson 4: Decorating and assembling my toy

Created by:

Vicki Risianova

Design and technology specialist

Image Specialists 9
After 4 years of being a TV and radio presenter, Vicki headed to the secondary classroom where she spent 12 years teaching Design and Technology as well as PE. Working as a subject leader, she ran D&T tournaments and weekly clubs to get…
Find out more
Image Specialists 9

Maintained by: Kapow Primary team

Last update: 10th February, 2026

_
Assessment – D&T Y3 : Mechanical systems: Pneumatic toys Previous Lesson
Lesson 2: Designing a pneumatic toy Next Lesson

Related content

Please don’t screenshot or copy images from this page.
Kapow Primary resources are created by teachers and protected by copyright. Copying images or slides into your own presentations (for example using the Snipping Tool) counts as reproducing the resource and isn’t permitted under the Kapow licence.
This resource is being accessed through your school’s Kapow licence.
Thank you for respecting the work of the teachers who create these materials.