Please note
This unit encourages the pupils to problem-solve and understand a product’s construction before developing their own. The Archived unit: Electronic greeting cards, which includes coin batteries that may present a choking risk to younger children if taken home, will no longer be updated.
Unit outcomes
Pupils who are secure will be able to:
- Identify simple circuit components (battery, bulb and switch) with a basic explanation of their function.
- Explain that a series circuit is assembled in a loop to allow the electricity to flow along one path.
- Describe a motor as a circuit component that changes electrical energy into movement.
- Provide examples of motorised products that use movement to rotate or spin different parts.
- Remove and replace different parts of a Doodler, as part of a team.
- Suggest ways to switch the configuration to amend the form or function of the Doodler.
- Explain, in an investigation report, each of the changes they made and the effect this had on the Doodler’s ability to draw scribbles (function) and appearance (form).
- Develop design criteria with consideration for the target user, the purpose of their Doodler, a key function and the Doodler’s form and final appearance (e.g. fun, bright, soft).
- Explain simply why their Doodler has a certain configuration based on the findings of their investigation (e.g. I used four pens because the Doodler would fall over with two).
- Create a functional Doodler that creates scribbles on paper with or without a switch.
- Identify and list each of the required materials, tools and circuit components required to build a Doodler.
- Explain simply the steps to assemble a Doodler as part of a set of instructions (or storyboard).
- Write instructions to build a functional circuit, explaining how to identify if it is functional or not.
- Provide suggestions to improve a peer’s set of instructions after testing how effective they are at guiding someone.
Suggested prior learning
Electrical systems: Torches
Get startedLessons
Lesson 1: Electrical systems and motors
Lesson 2: Meet the Doodlers
Lesson 3: Doodler design and construction
Lesson 4: Doodler DIY kits
Key skills
- Identifying factors that could
This content is for subscribers only. Join for access today.
Key knowledge
- To know that, in
This content is for subscribers only. Join for access today.
Key vocabulary
circuit component
configuration
This content is for subscribers only. Join for access today.
Unit resources
Assessment – D&T Y5: Electrical systems: Doodlers
Assessment resources for this unit. Use
This content is for subscribers only. Join for access today.
Knowledge organiser
A printable pupil-facing document, summarising the
This content is for subscribers only. Join for access today.
Unit vocabulary
Subject resources
D&T Long-term plans
A suggested order for teaching Design
This content is for subscribers only. Join for access today.
National curriculum mapping
This National curriculum coverage document shows
This content is for subscribers only. Join for access today.
D&T: Progression of pupil skills and knowledge
Progression documents showing how skills and
This content is for subscribers only. Join for access today.
Equipment list
A handy spreadsheet allowing you to
This content is for subscribers only. Join for access today.
Assessment
Spreadsheet to record teacher assessments against
This content is for subscribers only. Join for access today.
Vocabulary progression
Vocabulary document that shows key vocabulary
This content is for subscribers only. Join for access today.
Cross-curricular opportunities
Science
‘Pupils should be taught to:
- construct a simple series electrical circuit, identifying and naming its basic parts, including cells, wires, bulbs, switches and buzzers’
See National curriculum - Science key stages 1 to 2.
English
‘Pupils should be taught to:
- evaluate and edit by:
- assessing the effectiveness of their own and others’ writing
- proposing changes to vocabulary, grammar and punctuation to enhance effects and clarify meaning’