In Year 4, our Design and Technology lessons give us the opportunity to develop practical skills and apply our learning to real-world contexts. During the spring term, we explored the human body and nutrition through an exciting project focused on creating a healthy packed lunch. We began by analysing a range of existing packed lunches and identifying potential users before collaborating to develop a detailed design criteria. Using this as our guide, we selected nutritious food options that balanced taste and appearance. A highlight of the project was using computer-aided design software to create exploded diagrams of our packed lunches, showcasing our creativity and technical skills. When it came to preparing the food, we applied techniques like washing, cutting, slicing, peeling, deseeding, shredding, spreading, and grating—building on the skills we had learned in previous years. The children loved the hands-on element, with one remarking, “It was fun to see how all the parts of our design came together!” They also demonstrated excellent hygiene and safety practices while making their sandwiches. This project supported key objectives from the National Curriculum for Design and Technology, including investigating and evaluating existing products, designing for specific needs, and developing food preparation techniques. It was a fantastic way to link our DT learning with healthy eating and nutrition!
