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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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
- Drill bits ×1
- Saws Adult supervision required. ×8
- Scissors right- and left-handed options recommended. ×30
- Masking tape ×1
- Plastic wallets ×30
- A selection of Sandpaper
- Wood square rod ×8
- Dowel rod ×8
- Thin card ×30
- Thick card ×30
- Hot glue gun Adult supervision required - hot surface. ×1
- A selection of Sticky tack
- Corrugated card ×30
-
Colouring and decorating equipment
×8 - Hole punch ×1
-
Art straws
×30
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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.
