Key Stage 3 D&T - example DMA

Snack tray for an airline

The  drawing shows a basic design for a plastic snack tray that will be used by an airline  on flights of between 2-3 hours duration. 

The tray will hold a snack consisting of 3 parts:

• The main meal (a sandwich or small cold meal or small hot meal),
• a cupcake
• a cup of orange juice. 

The drawing shows a tray with two compartments but it should have three.

Design Brief

Design and make a prototype plastic snack tray that will hold a snack consisting of a main meal, a cupcake and an orange drink.

Specification

The tray must be made from a sustainable plastic material that can be washed and re-used.  It must be as light as possible, yet be rigid enough to hold the snack without bending or twisting. One compartment must be the correct size for a standard cupcake foil or paper case.  One compartment must be the correct size for a standard sized plastic cup.  

Industrial Production Requirements

You should describe at least two plastic forming processes that could be used to manufacture the snack tray in large numbers.  

Presentation Requirements

• You should show at least 5 tray designs using notes and sketches to illustrate your ideas. 
• You should make a coloured presentation drawing of your preferred design, using isometric or two point perspective drawing techniques. 
• You should also make a dimensioned orthographic drawing of the tray, the foil or paper case and your chosen type of plastic cup.

Planning for Making

You should describe the stages in manufacturing the snack tray.  

Additional information

• You must state whether the plastic cup will be a disposable component or a re-usable component
• you should state what the main meal should consist of
• you should describe the main ingredients of three different flavoured cupcakes
• you should describe the advantages and disadvantages of using plastics made from renewable materials
• you should describe the advantages and disadvantages of using plastics that are made from fossil fuels. 

Prototype

A prototype is a finished, working product that is still at the testing and evaluation stage.  It is the first one of a series that is likely to be reproduced in large numbers. 

Sustainable Plastics

Sustainable plastics are made from renewable sources such as wheat, corn, potatoes, grass and palm fibre.  They are biodegradable so discarded products do not have a long term effect on the environment.  Sustainable plastics can be composted as they are biodegradable.  

On the other hand, plastics made from fossil fuels are non biodegradable.  Oil, the raw material from which most plastics are made, is nonrenewable.  Discarded or dumped waste plastics have a catastrophic and long term effect on the environment, on land and in the sea.  

Learn about Plastics

We use animations and supporting technology notes to describe plastics and plastics processes.

Animations illustrate plastics processes in probably the most clear way possible, making plastics processes easy to understand, easy to learn and easy to remember.

Our plastics technology notes and animations describe all the major processes including:

• Line Bending
• Expanded Polystyrene
• Injection Moulding
• Extrusion Blow Moulding
• GRP
• Resin Transfer
• Pultrusion Process
• Moulding DMC
• Moulding SMC

Plastics Module

Our new Plastics Module developed from the work in the KS3 and KS4 D&T packages. It is a complete package that includes:

• plastics technology notes
• animations of plastics processes
• a range of exercises that include design and make assignments (DMAs), focused practical tasks (FPTs) and technology questions.

To make teaching easier, the technology theory notes and exercises are in digital format, making them suitable for computers and whiteboards; and in PDF format, which makes it simple to print and duplicate A4 theory notes and worksheets.

View the Plastics Module brochure online Download a free PDF Plastics Module brochure

Comprehensive and economical D&T software bundle

Three great software products covering the design aspects, the resistant materials aspects and product design aspects of KS3 and KS4 D&T courses.

Our new D&T software bundle includes:

• Plastics Module
• KS3 Design and Technology
• KS4 Design and Resistant Materials Technology

The three packages contain a wealth of technology theory notes, animations of D&T processes, design exercises, design analysis exercises and technology exercises.

Download links will be emailed to you/your school within 24 hours of receipt of your order.

Plastics Module
Single User Licence - £30	School Site Licence - £60
Click here to place an order for a UK school or college

Get £50 off when you buy a Site Licence for the
Plastics Module + KS3/KS4 D&T software bundle

New Software Bundle: Plastics Module + KS3 D&T + KS4 D&T
Single User Licence - £60	School Site Licence - £120
Click here to place an order for a UK school or college