New
New
Year 2

Finishing a vehicle

I can build and finish my vehicle using a range of different materials and strategies.

New
New
Year 2

Finishing a vehicle

I can build and finish my vehicle using a range of different materials and strategies.

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These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The body of the vehicle needs to be attached to the chassis.
  2. Card and cardboard can be used to make a realistic vehicle body and reinforced.
  3. Wheels and axles are attached to a chassis to make a vehicle move.
  4. The body of a vehicle can be modelled in different shapes.
  5. A range of materials can be used to finish a vehicle.

Keywords

  • Vehicle - a machine with wheels used for transporting people or goods

  • Joint - a point at which two parts of a structure are joined together

  • Parallel - lines that are always the same distance apart and never meet

  • Reinforce - to strengthen or support an object or structure

  • Body - the main structure of a vehicle that holds its components

Common misconception

A vehicle only has a chassis.

A vehicle has a chassis and a body.


To help you plan your year 2 design and technology lesson on: Finishing a vehicle, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Additional time will be needed in this lesson for the pupils to build the chassis and body of their vehicles, including adding finishing touches. Encourage the use of recycled materials.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Design/specification, reinforced chassis, scissors, joining methods, axle holders, axles & caps, wheels, range of materials for vehicle body and finishing materials (see additional materials page)

Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - equipment

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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4 Questions

Q1.
Match the words to their meanings.
Correct Answer:vehicle,a machine with wheels used for transporting people or goods

a machine with wheels used for transporting people or goods

Correct Answer:design,the process of creating a plan for a product or structure

the process of creating a plan for a product or structure

Correct Answer:joint,a point at which two parts of a structure are joined together

a point at which two parts of a structure are joined together

Correct Answer:body,the main structure of a vehicle that holds its components

the main structure of a vehicle that holds its components

Q2.
Which of the following need to be attached to a chassis to allow a vehicle to move?
Correct answer: wheels
doors
Correct answer: axles
vehicle
Q3.
Which of these are correct statements about the triangulation method?
Correct answer: triangles are used to reinforce
rectangles are used to build
curved shapes are used to strengthen
all structures are made from triangles
Q4.
True or false? Design specifications help designers create objects that people want.
Correct answer: true
false

4 Questions

Q1.
Which of these are parts of a chassis?
Correct answer: wheels
windows
Correct answer: axles
Correct answer: axle holders
body
Q2.
True or false? The body of the vehicle has doors, windows, bumpers and other features to make the vehicle unique.
Correct answer: true
false
Q3.
True or false? Every vehicle has the same shaped body.
true
Correct answer: false
Q4.
True or false? Joints are only found on a chassis of a vehicle.
true
Correct answer: false

Additional material

Download additional material