Unit outcomes
Pupils who are secure will be able to:
- Mark, saw and cut out the components and supports of their toy with varying degrees of accuracy to the intended measurements.
- Follow health and safety rules, taking care with the equipment.
- Attempt a partial assembly of their toys using an exploded diagram following a teacher’s demonstration.
- Develop a design idea with some descriptive notes.
- Explore different cam profiles and choose three for their follower toppers with an explanation of their choices.
- Create neat, decorated follower toppers with some accuracy.
- Measure and cut panels that fit with some inaccuracies to conceal the inner workings of the automata.
- Decorate and finish the automata to meet the design criteria and brief.
- Evaluate their finished product, making descriptive and reflective points on function and form.
Lesson plans
Lesson 1: Automata
Lesson 2: Frame assembly
Lesson 3: Experimenting with cams
Lesson 4: Finishing touches
Key skills
Design
- Noticing wider-reaching
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Key knowledge
Technical knowledge: Mechanical systems
To
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Key vocabulary
accurate
automata
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Related content
Unit resources
*New* Knowledge organiser: D&T – Y6 Automata toys
Aimed at pupils, two pages providing key facts and definitions from the unit '*New* Mechanical systems: Automata toys.'.
*New* Vocabulary display: Automata toys
A display version of the key vocabulary from the Automata toys unit.
Subject resources
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Cross-curricular opportunities
British values: Mutual respect.
In this unit on automata mechanical toys, pupils develop mutual respect by collaborating on toy design, following safety rules, and providing constructive feedback.