| Lesson Plan |
| Grade: |
Date: 25/02/2026 |
| Subject: Design and Technology |
| Lesson Topic: The responsibilities of designers and manufacturers in ensuring products and packaging are made from sustainable materials and components. |
Learning Objective/s:
- Describe the responsibilities of designers and manufacturers in sustainable product development.
- Explain how material selection, design for disassembly, and packaging affect environmental impact.
- Apply a simplified lifecycle assessment to compare material options.
- Evaluate manufacturing processes for energy efficiency and waste reduction.
- Propose design modifications to improve recyclability and end‑of‑life management.
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Materials Needed:
- Projector and screen
- Whiteboard and markers
- Handouts with material comparison table
- Sample sustainable material specimens (recycled aluminium, PLA, bamboo composite)
- LCA worksheet or calculator template
- Sticky notes and pens for group activity
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Introduction:
Begin with a short video showing the environmental impact of single‑use packaging to capture interest. Ask students to recall previous lessons on material properties and product lifecycles. Explain that today they will identify how designers and manufacturers can reduce that impact, and they will be assessed on their ability to evaluate sustainable choices and propose improvements.
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Lesson Structure:
- Do‑now (5'): Quick quiz on material properties and sustainability terminology.
- Mini‑lecture (10'): Responsibilities of designers – material selection, design for disassembly, lightweighting – with real‑world examples.
- Group activity (15'): Analyse a case‑study product, complete a simplified LCA worksheet, and select more sustainable material options.
- Manufacturer focus (10'): Discuss sustainable production processes and packaging design, showing industry case studies.
- Whole‑class discussion (10'): Groups share proposals; class uses the sustainability checklist to critique ideas.
- Exit ticket (5'): Each student writes one actionable change they would implement as a designer or manufacturer.
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Conclusion:
Summarise how material choice, design decisions, and manufacturing processes together determine a product’s sustainability. Collect the exit tickets to gauge understanding. For homework, students will research a product they use daily and produce a brief report outlining its sustainable and non‑sustainable aspects, proposing at least two improvements.
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