Plastic fantastic

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• Publication: Times Educational Supplement
• Date: 2007-11-09
• Author: Stephen Manning
• Page: B56
• Language: English

Junior design and technology is coming out from behind the sofa. Stephen Manning finds out how Doctor Who is transporting pupils

Trying to invigorate pupils' creativity by means of popular culture is fraught with the problem of. well. what is their popular culture?

So teachers who grew up between the 1960s and 1980s must have breathed a collective sigh of relief when Doctor Who was revived a few years ago. The production values might have altered somewhat, but those extravagant creatures from across space and time that kept them behind their sofas as children can get their most - junior pupils excited, too. This is why Pauline Hannigan, advanced skills teacher for design and technology at Nancledra Primary, Penzance, Cornwall, has chosen a Doctor Who theme for her school's biggest challenge to date.

Nancledra is giving a demonstration at next week's Design and Technology with ICI' Education Show in Birmingham. Pauline will supervise four of her Year 6s, - who will use resistant materials — wood, plastic, mouldable foam — to produce two models of creatures based roughly on the theme of a character from Doctor Who. It could be a slimy alien, although it's more likely to be some kind of robot.

The result will need to be both presentable and functional, perhaps as a toy. It will blend a mechanical component and an electronic component.

Pauline's team will start with a project analysis. getting their hands on clockwork toys and cam toys. They will also look at images of Doctor Who characters, as well as pictures of insects and animals.

"I get them to look at everything and get excited by the images and possibilities. and then put down initial ideas without worrying about how to realise them." says Pauline.

Once the brainstorming is over, it's time to get real and consider what materials are available. This is what it's all about for Pauline. "There are many transferable skills within design and technology: planning, teamwork, and the satisfaction of having an idea and seeing it to fruition."

The 30th Design and Technology with ICT Education Show will be held at the Birmingham NEC from November 15-17.

www.ichf.co.uk/d+t

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• APA 6th ed.: Manning, Stephen (2007-11-09). Plastic fantastic. Times Educational Supplement p. B56.
• MLA 7th ed.: Manning, Stephen. "Plastic fantastic." Times Educational Supplement [add city] 2007-11-09, B56. Print.
• Chicago 15th ed.: Manning, Stephen. "Plastic fantastic." Times Educational Supplement, edition, sec., 2007-11-09
• Turabian: Manning, Stephen. "Plastic fantastic." Times Educational Supplement, 2007-11-09, section, B56 edition.
• Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=Plastic fantastic | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Plastic_fantastic | work=Times Educational Supplement | pages=B56 | date=2007-11-09 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=29 June 2025 }}</ref>
• Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=Plastic fantastic | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Plastic_fantastic | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=29 June 2025}}</ref>