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Introduction to the fairground wheel unit
CPD Support: Teaching wheel mechanisms with a fairground theme
This teacher CPD video supports the delivery of a creative Kapow Year 2 DT unit where pupils design and build their own fairground wheels. The lesson builds on prior knowledge of wheels, axles, and stable structures, while encouraging children to respond to a design brief linked to their local area. With step-by-step guidance, teachers are equipped to model, scaffold, and adapt the activity confidently for all learners.
From mechanisms to meaningful design
The video walks teachers through the key stages: revisiting how wheels and axles function, planning labelled diagrams, and testing different wheel constructions using materials such as paper plates, straws, and recycled packaging. Children consider safety, scale, and local identity as part of their design criteria, making the activity both technically and creatively enriching.
Hands-on problem solving and evaluation
Practical troubleshooting is encouraged throughout the making process—from balancing frames to adjusting axle holders—helping pupils develop resilience and iterative thinking. The unit ends with reflective discussion, market research, and the opportunity to compare completed fairground wheels, fostering collaborative evaluation and critical design thinking in a fun, purposeful context.
