51ºÚÁÏ

Design Brief: Design and make an interactive ‘Build-a-Buddy’ toy for the Magic Toy Company.

Sequence of Learning for Teachers
In this unit of work children design and make a ‘Build-a-Buddy’ soft toy that is combined with a BBC Micro:Bit to create an interactive soft toy for sale in the shops at Christmas.
Children learn about the ‘Build-a-Bear’ workshops and discuss what makes a good ‘buddy’ and what makes a good soft toy. Using this knowledge, they create a mood board of ideas for their Build-a-Buddy product. They apply their knowledge and skills of joining textile pieces to create a soft toy which they decorate using a range of fabric decorating techniques. As part of their design, they create a small fabric window and pouch to accommodate a BBC Micro:Bit and battery pack. Applying their knowledge of block coding, they program the Micro:Bit to interact with the user. As part of the project children design and make packaging and promotional materials for their toy product.

This knowledge, skills and understanding is delivered through the following six sessions:

1. Investigate 1: Building a Buddy & Focus Task 1 – Toy Designer
2. Focus Task 2: Finalise the Design & Investigate 2: All About the Micro:Bit
3. Design and Make: Making the Product
4. Design and Make: Decorating and Finishing the Product
5. Design and Make: Programming and Packaging the Product
6. Evaluation: Into the Dragon’s Den

Some activities / sessions can be re-arranged or delivered in different ways in the learning sequence to allow for whole-class teaching and/or small adult-led sessions to take place at the same time.