Curriculum area: Knowledge and Understanding of the World

PoS/ELG:Find out about and identify the uses of everyday technology.

Year Group: Reception

Learning objective:
To use a microwave to change materials.

Key questions:
Which buttons do you need to press to programme the microwave?
What happens when you press start on the microwave?
Which sounds can you hear while the microwave is on?
What does the popcorn feel like before it goes in the microwave?
What do you think will happen when the popcorn goes in the microwave?
What is different about the popcorn after it has been put in the microwave?
What does it taste and smell like?
What would happen if you put the popcorn back in the microwave?
Can you think of something else you could use the microwave for?
How else could you cook the popcorn?

Comments/resources:
Teacher directed activity where children explore everyday technology.
Microwave, microwave popcorn, sweet, salty, toffee popcorn, magnifiers, sorting circle, digital microscope.

Curriculum area: Knowledge and Understanding of the World

PoS/ELG:Use information and communication technology to support their learning.

Year Group: Reception

Learning objective:
To use a digital microscope to identify similarities and differences

Key questions:
What can you see through the digital microscope?
Tell me what you know about the.?
Can you think of something else you could look at using the digital microscope?
What do you need to do to take a picture using the digital microscope?
Why did you change the magnification?
What can you see using digital microscope that you cannot see with your eyes?
Why did you use the digital microscope to look at.?
What else could you use to look at.?

Comments/resources:
Teacher directed activity where children use communication technology to support their learning comparing fruits and seeds, minibeasts, materials.
Digital microscope, computer, magnifiers, sorting circles, materials, seeds.

Curriculum area: Knowledge and Understanding of the World

PoS/ELG: Use programmable toys to support their learning.

Year Group: Reception

Learning objective:
To control a programmable toy.

Key questions:
What does the toy need to make it work?
How do you turn the toy on and off?
What do you think will happen when you press the button?
Can you make the toy move?
How did you make the toy move?
Can you make the toy change direction?
Why did you make the toy turn?
How is the programmable toy different to the wind up toy?
Can you think of other objects that use batteries/remote controls?
Why doesn't the toy move?

Comments/resources:
Teacher directed or child initiated activities where children use programmable toys to support learning.
Programmable toys, batteries, charger, remote control, wind up toys, push and pull toys