Learning objective
- To improve a working gear system and suggest some applications.
Success criteria
- I can use
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National curriculum
Design and technology
Design
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Cross-curricular links
Science
Forces
Pupils should be
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Before the lesson
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Lesson plan
Recap and recall
Arrange the class into their groups from Lesson 1: Gears and hand out the gear systems they made (two gears with corrugated teeth and a mounting board with split pin axles). Instruct them to rotate one of the gears and look carefully at where the gear turns around the split pin; they should also look…
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Adaptive teaching
Pupils needing extra support:
Should make the smallest gear as there are fewer teeth to draw and less cutting required to create the gear; could rewatch the Pupil video: Drawing gears to help them with the steps.
Pupils working at greater depth:
Should make the largest gear as there are more teeth to draw and more cutting required to create the gear; could be provided with an additional set of the Resource: Drawing gears template so they can make and mount up to six gears; could problem-solve in the Wrapping up activity with up to six gears.
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Assessing progress and understanding
Pupils with secure understanding indicated by: using a template to
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Vocabulary definitions
-
axle
A long straight rod which connects to a rotating part (e.g. the wheels of a car).
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teeth
The small bumps around the edge of a gear that fit into another gear to make it move.
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In this unit
Assessment - D&T Y5: Gears and pulleys
Lesson 1: Gears
Lesson 2: Improving your gear design
Lesson 3: Pulleys
Lesson 4: Eco-bike project: Market research
Lesson 5: Eco-gadget bike project: Design
Maintained by: Kapow Primary team
Last update: 12th October, 2025
