New
New
Year 8

Scales of production

I can explore the context and identify different scales of production

New
New
Year 8

Scales of production

I can explore the context and identify different scales of production

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.

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

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. All design and technological practice takes place within contexts which inform outcomes.
  2. One-off production is where one item is made to measure.
  3. Batch production is where a specific number of products are manufactured.
  4. Mass production is where a large number of products are manufcatured.

Keywords

  • Context - the situation within which something exists or happens

  • Moodboard - a visual collage that displays a specific style, theme, or context for inspiration

  • Scales of production - the amount/volume of goods produced

Common misconception

All products are made in a factory on a production line using machines in their thousands.

Products can be maufactured in a factory using machines. They can also be manufactured by hand or using machines in a workshop. Products are made in varying amounts, this depends on their function, purpose and materials used.


To help you plan your year 8 design and technology lesson on: Scales of production, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Allow pupils to print copies of their moodboards. When working collaboratively, pupils can annotate onto the printed copy or use sticky notes to attach their annotation. These can then be scanned if necessary.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Computers, sticky notes, printer.

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

Loading...

Prior knowledge starter quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
What is a context in design and technology?
the materials used in a product
Correct answer: the situation or setting for the product
the colour of the product
the tools used
Q2.
A __________ shows images that give inspiration and ideas for a product.
Correct answer: mood board
style board
picture board
frame board
Q3.
Match the term to its meaning.
Correct Answer:context,the situation something is used in

the situation something is used in

Correct Answer:moodboard,a visual collage used for inspiration

a visual collage used for inspiration

Correct Answer:product,something that is designed and made

something that is designed and made

Correct Answer:user,the person who will use the product

the person who will use the product

Q4.
What is a product?
something you throw away
Correct answer: a finished item that has been designed and made
a random object
something drawn on a whiteboard
Q5.
Why do designers need to know who will use the product?
so they can guess the colour
so they can choose what snacks to buy
Correct answer: so they can design something that meets the user’s needs
so they can build it faster
Q6.
Which of these is most likely to be made using one-off production?
Correct answer: a handmade wedding dress
500 printed birthday cards
millions of identical water bottles

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

4 Questions

Q1.
One approach to explore a context is to create a moodboard. A moodboard is ...
a technical drawing.
Correct answer: a visual collage.
a project plan.
a type of cardboard.
Q2.
Scales of production refer to the or volume of goods produced.
Correct Answer: amount, number, quantity
Q3.
Match the scale of production to its key component.
Correct Answer:one-off,usually handmade

usually handmade

Correct Answer:batch,a specific number are manufactured

a specific number are manufactured

Correct Answer:mass,mainly automated

mainly automated

Correct Answer:continuous,runs constantly

runs constantly

Q4.
A drinks can is an example of a product that is manufactured using ...
An image in a quiz
one - off production.
batch production.
mass production.
Correct answer: continuous production.