Year 10/11 Design & Technology
READING TASKS
How to spend a trillion dollars by Rowan Hopper
If you had a trillion dollars and a year to spend it for the good of the world and the advancement of science, what would you do? It's an unimaginably large sum, yet it's only around one per cent of world GDP, and about the valuation of Google, Microsoft or Amazon.
Fifty Things that Made the Modern Economy by Tim Harford
From the tally-stick to Bitcoin, the canal lock to the jumbo jet, each invention in Tim Harford's fascinating book has its own curious, surprising and memorable story, a vignette against a grand backdrop. Step by step, readers will start to understand where we are, how we got here, and where we might be going next.
Brunel - The man who built the world by Steven Brindle
In his lifetime, Isambard Kingdom Brunel towered over his profession. Today, he remains the most famous engineer in history, the epitome of the volcanic creative forces which brought about the Industrial Revolution - and brought modern society into being.
Become a Lego Architect by Tom Alphin
Travel through the history of architecture in The LEGO Architect. You’ll learn about styles like Art Deco, Modernism, and High-Tech, and find inspiration in galleries of LEGO models. Then take your turn building 12 models in a variety of styles. Snap together some bricks and learn architecture the fun way!
Small Inventions that made a big difference by Helen Pilcher
Pockets, matches, spectacles, postage stamps. Whether it's the stitches that hold our clothes together or the syringes that deliver life-saving vaccines, small things really do make a big difference.
What If?: Serious Scientific Answer to Absurd Hypothetical Questions by Randall Munroe
From the creator of the wildly popular xkcd.com, this book offers hilarious and informative answers to important questions you probably never thought to ask.
WRITING TASKS
Being Inspired
Write about an innovative product that you feel has changed the world.
Present on A6 colour piece of card
LISTENING TASKS
Podcast - STEM
Listen to the Stemettes Podcast
Do you want to expand your knowledge of STEM but don’t know where to begin? In this article, they have compiled a list of favourite podcasts by women in STEM to help you get started in the STEM podcasting world.
Podcast - Designed for Life
Listen to 'Designed for Life' - A series of podcasts from creative industry designers who discuss their work, technology and what they have learned through failure, trial and error.
Listen here
WATCHING TASKS
RESEARCH TASKS
Subscription Service
Subscribe to daily and weekly newsletters.
Designboom is the worlds first and most popular digital architecture and design magazine.
Engineering - Learn More
Visit the website - I want to Study Engineering to find some interesting articles, journals and activities to expand your knowledge of the field of engineering.
TRIPS AND VISITS
Visit an Exhibition
Attend one of the guest exhibitions at either the V&A or Design museum in London.
London Design Festival
Attend the London design festival which is in the penultimate week of September.
Click here for information
CREATIVE TASKS
Design a Product
Design a product in response to a brief created by the idea machine.
Click here for more information.
STUDENT LED TASKS
Save the World with Stem
Save the world with stem - Follow the link to the STEM website where there is a packed booklet of fun and thought provoking ideas on how designers and engineers can save the world.
