New
New
Year 5

Make an electric vehicle chassis

I can build an accurate vehicle chassis.

New
New
Year 5

Make an electric vehicle chassis

I can build an accurate vehicle chassis.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Chassis is the name for a vehicle's frame.
  2. A wooden frame needs measuring and cutting accurately.
  3. A wooden frame needs to be joined with accuracy.
  4. Axle holes need to be parallel.

Keywords

  • Chassis - the frame or base on which a vehicle is built

  • Accuracy - being exact, without mistakes

  • Axle holder - a device which holds an axle in place

  • Parallel - runs side by side but never meets

Common misconception

The position of axle holes and axles doesn't need to be accurately measured.

Axle holes and axles need to be positioned accurately on order for the wheels and pulleys to rotate correctly and produce the correct movement. Accurate measuring is essential.


To help you plan your year 5 design and technology lesson on: Make an electric vehicle chassis, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Set up work stations for each task with the tools required for sawing and chassis assembly.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Please see additionl materials document for information on the resources needed for this lesson.

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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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of of the following would you use to measure wood?
glue stick
pencil
Correct answer: ruler
string
Q2.
Which of the following units could you measure the length of a piece of wood in?
seconds
Correct answer: centimetres
degrees
Correct answer: milimetres
Q3.
You can use a to cut a piece of wood.
Correct Answer: saw
Q4.
Match the tool to what it does:
Correct Answer:ruler,measure

measure

Correct Answer:saw,cut

cut

Correct Answer:glue,stick

stick

Q5.
Why is measuring important when building?
to waste materials
Correct answer: to make parts the correct size
to colour in neatly
Q6.
When two lines are __________, they run side by side and never meet.
perpendicular
Correct answer: parallel
crossing

Assessment exit quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
What is the frame of a vehicle called?
Correct answer: chassis
roof
engine
Q2.
What is 14.5 cm, in mm?
Correct Answer: 145 mm, 145
Q3.
Match the word to its meaning:
Correct Answer:chassis,vehicle frame

vehicle frame

Correct Answer:accuracy,exact measurement

exact measurement

Correct Answer:axle holder,holds axle in place

holds axle in place

Q4.
Why is it important to mark all the axle holes using the same measurements?
so the frame will stay attached
so it looks neat and tidy
Correct answer: so the wheels will be parallel

Additional material

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