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New
New
Year 3

Design specification and fabric selection

I can select fabrics for a purpose.

icon-background-square
New
New
Year 3

Design specification and fabric selection

I can select fabrics for a purpose.

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These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Design specification considers the user needs and wants to store stationery.
  2. Selecting fabrics depends upon the design specification.
  3. Selecting fastening depends upon the design specification.
  4. Adding swatches of fabrics to sketches adds to knowledge of construction.

Keywords

  • Design - planning how a product will look or work

  • Specification - a list of product requirements

  • Performance - how well a product or material works

  • Stationery - objects used for writing and drawing tasks, such as pencils

Common misconception

Fabric and fasteners are chosen for aesthetic qualities alone.

Fabric and fasteners need to be selected carefully for their function and application.


To help you plan your year 3 design and technology lesson on: Design specification and fabric selection, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Recycled fabrics can be used for this lesson. Felt, hessian and cross-stitch fabric are most suitable for use with embroidery thread and needles. Some fabrics e.g, stiffer, heavyweight fabrics, will require pupils to use smaller, sharper needles and thinner cotton thread.
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Teacher tip
equipment-required

Equipment

Please see additional materials document for details of the resources needed in this lesson.

content-guidance

Content guidance

  • Exploration of objects
supervision-level

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

copyright

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is this type of fastener called?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: zip, a zip, a zipper, zipper
Q2.
How does a zip work?
pieces 'snap' together
it passes through a hole
separate pieces stick together when pressed
Correct answer: slider opens and closes interlocking teeth
Q3.
Which of these is a type of fabric fastener?
paperclip
screw
Correct answer: button
staple
Q4.
Which of these is a hook and loop fastener?
Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
Q5.
Which of these is a type of fabric?
Correct answer: cotton
tissue
foil
polystyrene
Q6.
Match these words to their meaning.
Correct Answer:needle,a tool used for sewing
tick

a tool used for sewing

Correct Answer:thread,a thin string used for sewing
tick

a thin string used for sewing

Correct Answer:fastener,a temporary way to join fabric pieces
tick

a temporary way to join fabric pieces

Correct Answer:fabric,a material used to make clothes
tick

a material used to make clothes

6 Questions

Q1.
What is stationery?
a case for pencils
Correct answer: writing and drawing equipment
sewing equipment
a fastener
Q2.
What does this symbol mean?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: recycle, recycling, recycled
Q3.
Which fastener is commonly used on shirts.
hook and loop
Correct answer: button
zip
Q4.
Which of these is true about hook and loop fasteners?
can be made from metal
need a buttonhole
difficult to fasten
Correct answer: can wear out
Q5.
What are 'design specifications'?
product names
product drawings
Correct answer: product requirements
product user
Q6.
Why wouldn't a loose weave fabric be suitable for a pencil case design?
An image in a quiz
not waterproof
Correct answer: holes too big
too flexible
too stiff

Additional material

Download additional material