Lesson Plan

Lesson Plan
Grade: Date: 17/01/2026
Subject: Design and Technology
Lesson Topic: Electronic systems: input, process, output devices, logic systems
Learning Objective/s:
  • Describe the three stages of electronic systems (input, processing, output).
  • Identify common input, processing, and output devices and explain their functions.
  • Explain how basic logic gates (AND, OR, NOT, etc.) operate and are used to control outputs.
  • Design a simple logic circuit using OR and NOT gates to meet a given specification.
  • Evaluate a circuit diagram to predict its behaviour and troubleshoot errors.
Materials Needed:
  • Projector or interactive whiteboard
  • Printed handouts with device summary table
  • Arduino (or similar microcontroller) starter kit for demo
  • Breadboard, LEDs, push‑buttons, resistors
  • Logic‑gate simulation software (e.g., Logisim)
  • Worksheet with circuit‑design problems
  • Exit‑ticket cards
Introduction:
Ask students to name everyday gadgets that sense their environment and discuss what parts of those gadgets might be inputs or outputs. Recall previous learning about sensors and simple circuits. Explain that by the end of the lesson they will be able to identify each stage of an electronic system and design a basic logic‑gate solution.
Lesson Structure:
  1. Starter – Do‑now (5') – Students list three everyday input devices and share examples.
  2. Mini‑lecture (10') – Overview of input, processing, and output stages with slide examples.
  3. Demonstration (10') – Show an Arduino reading a push‑button and lighting an LED to illustrate the three stages.
  4. Logic‑gate activity (15') – In pairs, use Logisim to build an OR‑gate alarm circuit and test it.
  5. Guided practice (10') – Complete the sample alarm‑circuit problem on the worksheet, teacher circulates for support.
  6. Whole‑class discussion (5') – Groups present their circuits; teacher highlights correct use of OR and NOT.
  7. Recap quiz (5') – Quick Kahoot to check understanding of device functions and gate logic.
Conclusion:
Summarise how input devices feed data to processing units, which then drive appropriate outputs via logic decisions. Students complete an exit ticket describing one new device or gate they learned about and its role. For homework, assign a short design brief: sketch a circuit that uses a sensor and a NOT gate to control a motor.