Glossary

This glossary is based on the terms you will find in the National Curriculum Orders for Design & Technology or Information Technology in the Nuffield Primary D&T materials or in a range of other currently available texts / catalogues / websites.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W XYZ

fabric

a thin, flexible sheet material usually made from woven or knitted textiles

felt

a textile fabric made by compressing woollen fibres into a single sheet

fibre

a fine thread; most textile fabrics are composed of fibres that have been spun into thicker threads which are then woven or knitted

file

a tool for removing burs from freshly sawn metal

finishing techniques

methods used to make the surface of wood, metal and plastic smooth; these usually involve the use of abrasive papers

fitness for purpose

a criteria used in evaluating a product; the evaluator asks how well the product performs the function for which it was designed. If the product performs well then the product is said to have fitness for purpose

fixings

things used to fix materials together, e.g. nails, screws, nuts and bolts

flavour

the sensations detected by the tongue which, with smell and texture, give food its taste

flow chart

a way of planning how to carry out a task by drawing a sequence of boxes joined by arrows. Each box contains a short statement about one stage

foam materials

solid materials that include lots of air bubbles - Aero chocolate is an everyday example. Plastic foams are useful in design and technology. Expanded polystyrene is foam that comes as rigid lightweight sheets, blocks or 'bobbles'. It is used for packaging.

focused practical tasks

short practical activities that teach a specific piece of knowledge, understanding or skill; see small tasks

follower

usually a slider or lever that is moved by a cam or an eccentric

font

a particular style or design of lettering

food hygiene

the standards of cleanliness necessary when dealing with food as a material for design and technology. There is a tutorial on food hygiene

food sensitivity

some children are particularly sensitive to certain foods and may have an allergy. You should get parental approval for activities which involve tasting food.

found materials

materials available from discarded objects; often packaging e.g. washing up bottles, shampoo bottles, cereal packets; sometiimes referred to as junk materials or reclaimed materials

framework

a structure assembled from long thin parts as in a pylon or girder bridge. Your pupils can make frameworks from drinking straws

fulcrum (pivot)

the point of support of a lever, around which it moves

function

the purpose of a product or part of a product as in the function of a whisk is to mix the eggs with the milk and the function of the handle in the whisk is to make the gear go round to drive the blades

functional decoration

a decoration that also has a practical purpose e.g. wrapping a handle with string not only makes the handle look more attractive it also improves the grip