Planning a simple product on paper
Design & Technology · Key Stage 1 · The School
Why draw it first
Before making anything, draw it first. A quick sketch shows your idea clearly. It costs nothing to change a drawing. It costs a lot to unmake something already glued together. Drawing first is always worth it.
Labelling your drawing
Do not just draw a shape. Label the parts. Write what each part is made from. Write how big it should be. A labelled drawing tells you, and anyone else, exactly what to make.
Listing your materials
Before you start, list what you need. Card. Glue. String. Two paper cups. Check you actually have all of them. Running out of glue halfway through is a plan failing, not just bad luck.
Planning a paper puppet, step by step
You want to make a simple paper puppet. Draw the body shape first, and label it: "head", "body", "arms". Write the size next to each part: "head, 5 cm wide". List the materials: card, split pins, felt tip pens, scissors. Check off each item as you find it. Only once the drawing is labelled and every material is ready do you actually pick up the scissors and begin.
A plan is not wasted time
A good plan takes a few minutes. A muddled making session without one can waste an entire lesson. Planning first is not slower. It is usually the fastest way to end up with something that actually works. Try it before your next project.