Design and development of machines
I can describe how scientists and engineers collaborate, communicate, challenge each other's ideas and problem-solve together.
Design and development of machines
I can describe how scientists and engineers collaborate, communicate, challenge each other's ideas and problem-solve together.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Scientists share their test results and conclusions with engineers to help in the design of new products.
- Good quality communication is needed to make sure new problems don't arise.
- Scientists and engineers understand their role in a project to make sure it runs smoothly.
- Teams are resilient and think of solutions to problems they find.
Keywords
Collaborate - When you collaborate with someone, it means that you work with them.
Communicate - To communicate is to share your ideas and plans through writing or talking and could include using photographs, charts, diagrams and videos.
Challenge - A challenge is something difficult that requires effort to do or overcome.
Problem-solving - Problem-solving is working to find solutions to problems.
Resilient - If you are resilient, you are able to cope with challenges without giving up.
Common misconception
Engineers only design buildings or fix things that are broken.
A range of examples of how and where engineers work will be given.
To help you plan your year 5 science lesson on: Design and development of machines, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 5 science lesson on: Design and development of machines, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 science lessons from the Forces including simple machines unit, dive into the full secondary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
None essential but children may explore force meters, levers and masses to help them plan an investigation.
Content guidance
- Exploration of objects
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Starter quiz
6 Questions


I wonder why some insects are red.
I’ve noticed that the birds don’t eat red insects.
I could design a red scarecrow to keep birds away.


Exit quiz
6 Questions

sharing ideas and plans through writing, diagrams photos or talking
overcoming events or issues that make a project hard to complete
coping with challenges without giving up

test different materials that could be used to build bridges
design and build machines used to collect samples