Structure: Bridges
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Unit outcomes
Pupils who are secure will be able to:
- Identify stronger and weaker shapes.
- Recognise that supporting shapes can help increase the strength of a bridge, allowing it to hold more weight.
- Identify beam, arch and truss bridges and describe their differences.
- Use triangles to create simple truss bridges that support a load (weight).
- Cut beams to the correct size, using a cutting mat.
- Smooth down any rough cut edges with sandpaper.
- Follow each stage of the truss bridge creation as instructed by their teacher.
- Complete a bridge, with varying ranges of accuracy and finish, supported by the teacher.
- Identify some areas for improvement, reinforcing their bridges as necessary.
Suggested prior learning
Structure: Pavilions
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Lessons
Lesson 1: Arch and beam bridges
Lesson 2: Spaghetti truss bridges
Lesson 3: Building bridges
Lesson 4: Finalising bridges
Key skills
- Designing a stable structure
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Key knowledge
- To understand some different
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Key vocabulary
beam bridge
arch bridge
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Unit resources
Assessment D&T Y5: Structures: Bridges
Assessment D&T Y5: Structures: Bridges Assessment resources for this unit. Use
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Knowledge organiser
Knowledge organiser A pupil-facing summary document, capturing the
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Subject resources
D&T Long-term plans
A suggested order for teaching Design
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National curriculum mapping
National curriculum mapping This National curriculum mapping document shows
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D&T: Progression of pupil skills and knowledge
Progression documents showing how skills and
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Equipment list
Equipment list This spreadsheet allows you to estimate
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Policy support
A risk assessment document to support
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Design and technology: Risk assessment (editable)
An editable copy of our Design
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Assessment
Assessment Spreadsheet to record teacher assessments against
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Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary Vocabulary document that shows key vocabulary
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Cross-curricular opportunities
None relevant to this unit.
Build on the learning
Structure: Playgrounds
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