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Buying Dowel
When buying dowel it is advisable to buy your dowel and wheels
from the same supplier. There are two main sizes – 4mm and
5mm. If you buy wheels which have a 5mm hole then buy mainly
5mm dowel,
likewise with 4mm holed wheels but 4mm dowel. It can be extremely
frustrating for both children and teachers if the inappropriate
size is offered. Although 5mm dowel may be slightly more expensive
it can often be better, particularly with younger children,
as it is less likely to snap.
Flat Batteries (Cells)
Avoid your batteries going flat by short circuiting in their
storage boxes by ensuring that they are stored vertical in a
non-metallic container such as a cardboard box with empty lidless
film canisters glued to the base. Not only does this keep each
cell separate but it makes counting them at the end of each lesson
much easier.
Loosing Equipment
If you have made or bought toolboards or toolracks using the
age old method of shadow painting the outline of each tool on
the board aids neatness, checking and gives the children a notion
of good organisation. It may take time to set up initially but
it is well worth it in the end.
Best Piece of Equipment
Without any doubt the first piece of equipment I would purchase
is a metal bench vice. These vices can be fixed in either a temporary
or permanent way to a table or bench. They provide an excellent
method for children to hold a variety of materials while they
are working. They are a huge improvement on the standard bench
hook which is not only very difficult for young children to use
but is extremely restrictive on what it will hold.
Second Best Piece of Equipment
Not all but quite a lot of Design and Technology is
about mechanical movement. The most versatile piece of
equipment
for
this for almost any age group is the heavy duty hole punch. They
can punch
holes in a variety of materials from tin paper
to thick card, in lollysticks and tongue depressors,
in fabrics
and leatherette
material, in corriflute and other thin sheeting.
I would not
be without one. They are not cheap (around £15)
so you will not need many.
Messy Glue Dispensing
Many schools buy their PVA glue in the
five litre bottles. Good for economy but
can be difficult to dispense. Phone
the Proctor and Gamble helpline and ask (very politely) if
they will send
you one or two of their Fairy Liquid pumps. They
fit directly onto the glue bottles and all you need to do is
wrap a piece
of cling film or a plastic bag over the end to
stop the excess glue drying out. Tel: 0800
716854.
Need a Third Hand?
Are you always looking for something to hold children’s work
together while the glue dries? Clothes pegs can often be a good
answer but they only have a very small point of contact. Alternative?
Go and do some shopping in the High Street and call in at one
of the many clothes shops and see if they have got any trouser/skirt
hangers spare – the type with two plastic pegs
on the ends. Cut these off the main hanger using
a junior hacksaw and you will
have a set of wide opening flat faced clips which
will hold a multitude of items.
Accurate Holes
Hole punches can often cover up the mark you have made when
you need to punch a hole. This makes accuracy
no better than guesswork! If you turn the hole punch over you
can often line
up the exact position of the hole through the
underneath of the hole punch. Some of the office type hole
punches will need to
have their plastic base removed first.
Rolling Paper
Paper rolls are a very useful material for almost any primary
age range. They can be used for structures, musical instruments
and mechanical devices such as axles and axle holders. Some books
show you how to roll paper from an edge round a piece of dowel.
On most occasions for many children this is not easy so the advice
here is to roll your paper from corner to corner and not from
side to side.
Good Organisation
Takes time but well worth the effort in the long run! Make sure
that wherever you store most of your Design and Technology materials
and equipment the boxes, shelves, racks and trays are very well
labeled with either the correct name or a picture of the item
(or both) on the outside. Children, not to mention other teachers,
will then have no excuse for not replacing items in their correct
location.
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