Please note
This unit has been replaced by the unit *New* Mechanical cars. It will move to our Content archive in October 2025. It will remain permanently available but will not be updated in line with curriculum or website developments.
Unit outcomes
Pupils who are secure will be able to:
- Work independently to produce an accurate, functioning car chassis.
- Design a shape that is suitable for the project.
- Attempt to reduce air resistance through the design of the shape.
- Produce panels that will fit the chassis and can be assembled effectively using the tabs they have designed.
- Construct car bodies effectively.
- Conduct a trial accurately and draw conclusions and improvements from the results.
Suggested prior learning
Pneumatic toys
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Lesson plans
Lesson 1: Chassis and launch mechanism
Lesson 2: Designing the car body
Lesson 3: Making the car body
Lesson 4: Assembly and testing
Key skills
- Designing a shape that
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Key knowledge
- To understand that all
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Key vocabulary
chassis
energy
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Related content
Unit resources
Knowledge organiser: DT – Y4 Making a slingshot car
Aimed at pupils, a single page which gives key facts and definitions from the unit 'Mechanical systems: Option 2: Making…
Vocabulary display – D&T Y4: Mechanical systems: Making a slingshot car
A display version of the vocabulary from the unit 'Making a slingshot car'.
Subject resources
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Cross-curricular opportunities
None relevant to this unit.
Build on the learning
Making a pop-up book
Pupils build on their knowledge from learning how to make a slingshot car, applying mechanical system skills to create interactive mechanisms in a pop-up book.