Lesson Plan

• Describe the purpose and audience for sketches, formal drawings, and digital presentations.
• Apply appropriate techniques to produce rapid sketches, scaled technical drawings, and CAD‑based digital presentations.
• Evaluate communication outputs against IGCSE assessment criteria for clarity, accuracy and visual impact.

• Sketchbooks or A4 paper and pencils/coloured pens.
• Technical drawing set (ruler, compass, scale ruler, set squares).
• Computer with CAD/graphics software (e.g., Fusion 360, Illustrator) and projector.
• Printed handout of dimensioning symbols and line types.
• Design brief worksheet for each group.

Begin with a quick question: “How would a client know exactly what you’ve designed?” Connect this to students’ prior experience of sketching ideas for projects. Outline today’s success criteria – students will produce a sketch, a formal drawing, and a short digital slide that each clearly communicate a design idea.

1. Do‑now (5’) – List the key requirements from a sample design brief and identify which communication stage would best address each requirement.
2. Mini‑lecture & demo (10’) – Explain the three stages of communication, showing examples of sketches, formal drawings and a digital presentation slide.
3. Sketching activity (15’) – In pairs, generate 8–10 thumbnail sketches for the brief; peers give quick feedback on variety and idea generation.
4. Formal drawing workshop (20’) – Choose two sketches, produce scaled orthogonal drawings (1:20) with correct line types, dimensions and tolerances.
5. CAD modelling demonstration (15’) – Teacher models one design in CAD, adds annotations and renders a realistic image.
6. Digital presentation build (20’) – Groups compile a 3‑slide digital presentation (cover, rationale, annotated CAD image with a brief cost/materials table).
7. Self‑assessment & exit ticket (10’) – Use a checklist to compare each output against the IGCSE criteria; write one improvement for next time.

Recap how sketches, formal drawings and digital presentations each serve a specific purpose in the design process. Collect the exit tickets and remind students to refine their digital slides at home, adding any missing dimensions or cost data.