ABSTRACT
This chapter considers the similarities and differences between science and design and technology. The specific issues considered are: what are science and design and technology; science and design and technology, Desirable Outcomes and the National Curriculum; investigations and problem solving; and gender and learning about science and design and technology. Science was included as a core subject when the National Curriculum was introduced because it was decided that all children should be given the opportunities to develop scientific understanding from an early age. The nursery and primary curriculum has included components of design and technology for many years. However, the National Curriculum has extended and enhanced the role of design and technology within the curriculum, so that it includes: designing products, structures and models for a specific purpose; making the product, structure or model; and learning about the made world. In design and technology children use materials from the world around them to design, make and evaluate products.
