ChatGPT said:
This half term in Year 1, we are exploring Design and Technology (DT) and learning all about what DT stands for — Design and Technology is all about designing, making, and evaluating!
Our focus this term is on moving pictures, and the children are really enjoying discovering how everyday pictures and books can come to life with moving parts.
We started by learning about sliders and levers. The children had the chance to make their own examples:
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When learning about sliders, we made a bunny rabbit pop out of a hat, which everyone loved!
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With levers, we used split pins to help our pictures move. The children worked very carefully and were so proud when their creations came to life.
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Some children even went on to design their own imaginative ideas — like dolphins jumping out of the sea!
Next week, we’ll be learning about spinners, and by the end of the topic, we’ll use everything we’ve learned to design and make our own moving pictures that include levers, sliders, and spinners all in one design.
The children have shown fantastic creativity, problem-solving skills, and perseverance as they’ve explored how things move and work. We can’t wait to see their final moving picture masterpieces!
💡 How you can help at home:
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Look at storybooks together that have moving parts — talk about how they work.
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Encourage your child to draw and design their own simple moving pictures using paper fasteners or sliding strips.
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Collect bits of card, paper, and split pins to use for simple DT projects at home.
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Ask your child to explain how a lever or slider works — teaching someone else helps to deepen their understanding!
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Praise their creative ideas and problem-solving when things don’t work the first time.