Planning before making
Design & Technology · Early Years · The School
Why plan first?
Building without a plan can go wrong halfway through. You might run out of a bit you need. A quick plan helps you think first. Think before you start to glue and build anything at all today.
Drawing a simple plan
A plan does not need to be fancy. Draw the shape you want to build. Name each part. Write down what you will need. A few minutes of drawing can save you a lot of fuss later on, every time.
Listing what you need
Look at your drawing. What bits does it need? Card? Tape? A tube? Write a short list. Get everything on your list first. Then you can start to build your model, with nothing missing at all.
Building from your plan
Now build your model. Use your plan as a guide. You do not have to copy it just right. It just helps you stay on track. It stops you from missing a bit while you are busy building it.
Comparing plan and model
When you finish, put your plan next to your model. What is the same? What is not the same? Your plan can change as you go. We call that adapting your own idea, and it is a normal part of making things.