KS2 Design and Technology Resources & Projects
Explore engaging KS2 Design and Technology resources, lesson plans and schemes of work for Years 3 to 6. Designed to support the KS2 DT curriculum, our ready-to-teach projects develop children’s skills in designing, making and evaluating through structures, mechanical systems, electrical systems, textiles, programming and cooking and nutrition. Find practical DT projects for lower and upper KS2 that build technical knowledge, creativity and confidence while making Design and Technology planning simple.
Year 3 DT
Explore practical Year 3 Design and Technology resources, lesson plans and projects that develop children's designing, making and evaluating skills in lower KS2.
Year 4 DT
Discover ready-to-teach Year 4 DT projects that build practical skills and technical knowledge through purposeful designing, making and evaluating.
Year 5 DT
Browse Year 5 Design and Technology lesson plans and projects that challenge children to develop increasingly sophisticated designs and practical skills in upper KS2.
Year 6 DT
Explore Year 6 DT resources and projects that deepen children's technical knowledge, creativity and confidence as they design, make and evaluate purposeful products.
Browse KS2 Design and Technology Topics
Mechanical Systems
Develop children’s technical understanding through practical KS2 DT projects that explore movement, mechanisms and increasingly complex mechanical systems.
- Gears
- Pulleys
- Cams
- Levers & Linkages
- Moving Mechanisms
Electrical Systems & Programming
Give children opportunities to design products that use electrical components and apply computing skills to control and enhance their designs.
- Simple circuits
- Switches
- Lights & Buzzers
- Programming
- Control Systems
Structures & Textiles
Build practical making skills as children work with a range of materials to create strong structures and increasingly sophisticated textile products.
- Strength & Stability
- Joining Materials
- Frame Structures
- Patterns & Templates
- Sewing Techniques
Cooking & Nutrition
Develop children’s understanding of healthy eating, ingredients and food preparation through practical KS2 cooking and nutrition projects.
- Healthy & Varied Diets
- Food Preparation
- Seasonality
- Ingredients & Recipes
- Designing Food Products
Popular KS2 Design & Technology Schemes of Work:
Why teachers choose PlanBee KS2 Design and Technology resources
Ready-to-teach KS2 Design and Technology lesson plans, projects and schemes of work designed to support the KS2 DT curriculum, save planning time and help children develop practical skills, technical knowledge, creativity and confidence.
Develop practical DT skills
Help children develop confidence with designing, making and evaluating as they work with tools, materials, components and construction techniques across a wide range of KS2 DT projects.
Aligned with the KS2 DT curriculum
Explore KS2 Design and Technology schemes of work covering structures, mechanical systems, electrical systems, textiles, programming, cooking and nutrition, and the design process.
Complete KS2 DT lesson plans
Save planning time with complete lessons including teaching slides, detailed lesson plans, differentiated activities, printable resources and opportunities for children to evaluate and improve their work.
Engaging KS2 DT projects
Challenge children with purposeful design projects involving mechanisms, structures, electrical systems, textiles and food, while developing increasingly sophisticated technical knowledge and problem-solving skills.
Explore our KS2 DT Resources
Browse our complete collection of KS2 Design and Technology resources, lesson plans and schemes of work for Years 3 to 6. Explore engaging KS2 DT projects covering mechanical and electrical systems, structures, textiles, programming, cooking and nutrition, and the design process, all designed to develop practical skills, creativity and technical knowledge while supporting the National Curriculum for KS2 Design and Technology.
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Frequently Asked Questions about KS2 Design and Technology
What is taught in Design and Technology at KS2?
In KS2 Design and Technology, children develop their skills in designing, making and evaluating purposeful products for particular users and purposes. They build technical knowledge through areas such as structures, mechanical systems, electrical systems and textiles, while also learning about cooking and nutrition. Children are encouraged to investigate existing products, generate and communicate ideas, select appropriate tools and materials, and evaluate and improve their designs.
What are the main areas of KS2 Design and Technology?
The KS2 DT curriculum covers design, make, evaluate and technical knowledge, alongside cooking and nutrition. Practical projects can involve structures, mechanical systems, electrical systems, textiles and programming, giving children opportunities to apply their knowledge to increasingly challenging design problems.
What DT projects are suitable for KS2?
KS2 DT projects can include designing and making mechanical products using gears, pulleys, cams and linkages; creating structures; making textile products; incorporating electrical components into designs; using programming to control products; and preparing and cooking food. Effective KS2 DT projects give children a clear purpose and user for their product and take them through the complete design, make and evaluate process.
What mechanical systems should children learn about in KS2?
At KS2, children develop their understanding of mechanical systems by exploring mechanisms such as gears, pulleys, cams, levers and linkages. They can investigate how these systems work before applying their technical knowledge when designing and making their own functional products.
What should children learn about electrical systems in KS2 DT?
Children can incorporate electrical systems into functional products using components such as switches, bulbs, buzzers and motors. As they progress through KS2, they can also apply their computing knowledge to program, monitor and control products, creating increasingly sophisticated designs.
What is taught in cooking and nutrition at KS2?
KS2 cooking and nutrition develops children's understanding of a healthy and varied diet and teaches them how to prepare and cook a range of dishes using different techniques. Children should also develop their understanding of seasonality and know where and how different ingredients are grown, reared, caught and processed.
What is the difference between lower KS2 and upper KS2 DT?
The National Curriculum does not set separate statutory DT programmes of study for Years 3 and 4 and Years 5 and 6, so schools can organise content across KS2 in different ways. Generally, children should encounter progressively more challenging projects, becoming increasingly independent in their design decisions and developing greater precision and technical understanding as they move through KS2.
What is included in PlanBee KS2 DT lesson plans?
PlanBee KS2 Design and Technology schemes of work provide the resources needed to teach complete DT projects, including detailed lesson plans, teaching slides, differentiated activities and printable resources. Projects are structured to develop relevant practical and technical skills while giving children opportunities to design, make, evaluate and improve their products.
How can I plan Design and Technology across KS2?
Map the different areas of DT across Years 3 to 6 so that children experience a balanced range of structures, mechanisms, electrical systems, textiles, programming and cooking and nutrition. Skills and technical knowledge should become progressively more challenging, with children revisiting the design, make and evaluate process in different contexts throughout the key stage.
How is Design and Technology different from Art in KS2?
Although both subjects involve creativity and practical skills, Design and Technology focuses on designing and making functional products for a particular purpose and user. Children identify a need, develop a design, select appropriate materials and techniques, make their product and evaluate how successfully it meets the design criteria. In Art and Design, the emphasis is instead on developing artistic skills, exploring ideas and creating artwork.
