From Potato to Packet is a free classroom resource which provides an opportunity to explore food technology with 7-11 year olds. It does so through a food topic which is likely to engage and motivate children, and one with which they will be familiar: potato crisps.

The poster provides a detailed picture of the processes involved in the manufacture of potato crisps. It provides a case study example which can be used to teach children about various generic aspects of food preparation and production in industry. Industry provides a useful context for raising children’s awareness of design and making in the world outside school, and for teaching them concepts and practices which can be transferred to their own design and making activities.

The main poster is supported by this teacher’s leaflet. It gives guidance on curriculum relevance and learning objectives, ideas for supporting activities and classroom implementation, and a glossary of terms to help the development of pupil’s technical vocabulary.

Curriculum relevance

The study of food as a material for design and making is a compulsory part of the National Curriculum (Design and Technology) in England and Wales at key stages 1 and 2. In practice, this means that children might be taught the following in relation to food:

• an understanding of food as a material
• a knowledge and use of basic tools and equipment
• a technical vocabulary in relation to food
• how to evaluate foods and food products
• how to describe the sensory properties of foods
• the practical skills to make food products
• how to work safely and hygienically

The study of food is also relevant to the Scottish 5-14 Curriculum. This project can be used to support attainment outcomes in the Technology component of Environmental Studies.

The main curriculum and assessment opportunities identified for this topic relate to design and technology. However, the topic also presents opportunities for assessing other aspects of children’s learning - such as speaking and listening, aspects of science, and the use of number.

The grids on pages 2 and 3 of this leaflet show the identified National Curriculum and Scottish 5-14 Curriculum learning objectives for the topic which can be supported by this poster and the activities. The relevant table can be photocopied to add to a profile for each child and provide a record of their attainment. This information can be used alongside information from other tasks and activities to provide an overall picture of pupils’ capability.

Activities

The activities on page 4 onwards can be used with 7-11 year olds to support and extend the learning provided by the colour poster. They are designed to be flexible so that teachers can use all or only some of the activities, depending on the time available for this topic.

The activities are suggested as a means of meeting the learning objectives identified for this topic. Teachers will wish to create their own scheme of work and to decide how they prefer to approach the work suggested. The activities may be adopted as set out here, or adapted by the teacher to include their own ideas and teaching style. Teachers should bear in mind the previous experiences of children, and consider the overall plans for attainment, when approaching this topic.

The activities suggested represent the variety required in design and technology teaching (National Curriculum).

These are:

• focused practical tasks (FPTs) which give pupils the opportunity to learn and practise particular skills and knowledge to add to their repertoire
• investigative, disassembly and evaluative activities (IDEAs) where pupils explore familiar products and their applications and learn from what they find out
• design and make assignments (DMAs) which give children the opportunity to put their capability to work in designing and making products.