Design specification for wheeled vehicles
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explore a vehicle and create a design specification for a vehicle.
Key learning points
- A car has a chassis, body, wheels, axles, axle holders and an engine or motor.
- Creating a design specification for a vehicle will help to design and make a finished product.
- The design specification might include - travels in a straight line, has four wheels, wheels run freely.
Keywords
Axle - a rod that holds a wheel in place and allows it to turn
Chassis - the framework of a vehicle that supports the body and engine
Engine - a machine that helps a vehicle to move
Axel holder - the part where the axle goes through to hold it in place but still allow it to rotate
Design specification - describes what a product has to do
Common misconception
An axle must hold two wheels.
The axle might hold one or two wheels. The axle can turn with the wheel.
Teacher tip
Teachers could give additional time to explore a range of vehicles and should there be an opportunity to disassemble vehicles, this could be built into the lesson. Furthermore, a range of construction kits could be used to encourage the exploration of wheels, axles, axle holders and chassis.
Equipment
Range of moving toys, worksheet, pencil, coloured crayons and rulers.
Content guidance
Risk assessment required - equipment
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
4 Questions
Q1.On a car, which two parts allow the car to roll?
Q2.True or false? Wheels move in a rotary motion.
Q3.Which of the following have wheels and axles?
Q4.Wheels and axles help the wheels to ...
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.The axle holder attaches the axle to the __________ but still allows the axle to rotate.
Q2.What does a design specification describe?
Q3.What does the word disassemble mean?
Q4.What is the bottom of the vehicle called?
To help you plan your 2 design and technology lesson on: Design specification for wheeled vehicles, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 2 design and technology lesson on: Design specification for wheeled vehicles, 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 Wheels and axles: vehicles unit, dive into the full primary design and technology curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.