Resource created by York Museums Trust | Castle Museum

This resource explores old and new toys, how toys move, and the materials from which they are made

Curriculum Links

• KS1 Design & Technology: Explore and use mechanisms
• KS1 History: Changes within living memory - 'How are our toys different from those in the past?'
• KS1 Science: Distinguishing between objects and materials

Learning Objectives

• Knowledge of old and new toys and the materials they are made of
• Understanding of the differences between modern toys and toys from the past
• Skills to investigate how simple mechanisms work

Discussion Ideas

• What sort of materials are old toys made from?
• What are new toys made of?
• What do you think works well about the old toys?
• How would you change them?
• What sort of things can newer toys do that old toys can't?
• What makes a toy fun to play with?
• What can old toys tell us about children's lives in the past?

Activity Ideas

• D&T - Make a modern design for an old toy:
  Pupils could take one of the toys pictured in this resource and create a design showing how they would change it to make it appeal to children today. They might consider: 
  - How could you make it more fun?
  - What sort of features could you add?
  Pupils could then present their design to the class and explain why they have made design choices.