Shapes and materials used in playground structures
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can investigate the shapes and materials used in playground structures.
Key learning points
- Shapes in playground designs are chosen purposefully.
- Materials used in playground designs are chosen purposefully.
- Sketching helps us to spot details and features.
Keywords
Materials - what an object is made from
Features - a special part which makes something special or noticeable, such as eyes and nose on a face.
User - the person who uses the object
Playground equipment - structure that you can play on within a playground, such as swings or slides
Common misconception
All play areas follow a similar design.
There are a wide variety of play area designs for different users that use different materials and shapes.
Teacher tip
If possible, plan a visit to a local playground. Whilst at the playground, the pupils could sketch, explore and dicsuss the different equipment. Pupils could help to take photographs too. Otherwise, the pupils could take photos and complete sketches as part of a mini homework task.
Equipment
Photographs of a range of local playgrounds, pencils, paper/worksheet, rubber and coloured pencils if required.
Content guidance
Risk assessment required - equipment
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Wood, plastic, metal and glass are all ...
Q2.Match the object to the material is is made from.
window pane
garden fence or gate
wheels of a toy car
knife, fork and spoon
Q3.Match the playground equipment to the description.
It has steps that you climb up and a sloped surface.
It moves forwards and backwards in the air.
It moves up and down.
It turns round and round.
You can zoom along above the ground.
Q4.What is this?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Match the keywords to their meaning.
what an object is made from
the person who uses the object
structures that you can play on within a playground (swings or slides)
Q2.What are some of the features of playground equipment?
Q3.To sketch a picture of a playground, we use ...
Q4.A sketch is ...
To help you plan your 2 design and technology lesson on: Shapes and materials used in playground structures, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 2 design and technology lesson on: Shapes and materials used in playground structures, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 1 design and technology lessons from the Freestanding structures: playgrounds unit, dive into the full primary design and technology curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.