What is Design?

Year Level

Foundation (Kindergarten)

Duration

50 minutes

Class Size

20 students

Unit Context

This is Lesson 1 of 10 in the unit "Designing Our World."

Lesson Description

In this lesson, students will explore the concept of design and how it impacts objects and environments in daily life. They will learn to recognise that many familiar products, services, and environments are deliberately designed by people to meet specific needs and purposes. Using visuals and guided discussions, the class will build foundational understanding of design's role and importance.

Curriculum Alignment

Australian Curriculum Version 9 — Technologies
Learning Area: Design and Technologies
Year Level: Foundation
Relevant Content Descriptions:

AC9TDEFK01: Explore how familiar products, services, and environments are designed by people
(Recognising design in everyday life and understanding its purpose)
AC9TDEFP01: Generate, communicate, and evaluate design ideas, and use materials, equipment, and steps to safely make a solution for a purpose
(Introducing design thinking and simple problem-solving related to design)

Learning Intentions

WALT (We Are Learning To):

Understand what design is and its purpose in our daily lives.

Success Criteria:

Name at least two things that are designed.
Explain why these designed objects are useful.

Differentiation Strategies

Visual supports: Use large picture cards illustrating designed objects (e.g., chair, shoes, playground, toy, school bag).
Language: Use simple, clear sentences with large print.
Movement friendly: Include hands-on activities to keep foundation students engaged.
Support: One-on-one support for students requiring extra help with vocabulary or understanding.

Extension for Advanced Learners

Invite students to share a favourite designed item from home and explain why they like it.
Encourage students to think about additional uses for their chosen object or how it might be redesigned to be better or different.

Dyslexia-Friendly Features

Print text in large, clear font with good spacing.
Use pictorial representations for key vocabulary (e.g., design, useful, object).
Speak clearly and pause to give processing time.
Repeat key terms and instructions as needed.

Lesson Outline and Timings

Time	Activity Description	Details & Resources
0-5m	Welcome and Introduction	Greet students. Introduce lesson title "What is Design?" Use simple language: "Design means making something to use or help us." Show big picture card with word “Design.”
5-15m	Class Discussion: What is Design?	Use picture cards of everyday items (chair, shoes, playground, lunchbox). Ask: "What do you think about these things?" "Are they made by someone?" "Why do you think they were made?" Write/draw responses on board. Highlight that they are designed to be useful or fun.
15-25m	Story Time / Visual Slide Show	Use large images (digital projector/tablet) showing various designed objects - including First Nations Australian items (e.g., woven bags). Briefly explain purpose of each. Invite responses.
25-35m	Hands-on Group Activity: Design Detective	Divide students into 4 groups. Each group gets a set of picture cards showing designed objects plus a few natural/unmodified objects (rock, leaf). Students sort "Designed" vs "Not Designed". Teacher circulates to scaffold discussions, prompting "Why is this designed?" "What does it help us do?"
35-45m	Sharing and Reflection	Each group shares 1 designed item they found. Ask a few children to explain why it is useful. Relate back to WALT and success criteria.
45-50m	Wrap-Up and Extension Challenge	Recap: "Today we learned what design means." Encourage students to look for designed things at home tonight and bring one item to share tomorrow. Provide simple worksheet with large text and pictures for kids to draw their favourite designed item.

Resources Needed

Large picture cards of everyday designed objects (e.g., chair, shoes, toys, playground equipment, lunchbox) and non-designed natural objects (rock, leaf).
Digital device/projector for slideshow of designed things including examples of traditional First Nations designs (e.g., woven bags).
Whiteboard or large paper sheets for note-taking and drawing.
"Design Detective" sorting mats (2 columns: Designed / Not Designed).
Dyslexia-friendly worksheet with visuals and large print for the extension task.

Assessment Opportunities

Informal formative assessment during group sorting activity and class sharing—observe if students can correctly identify and name designed objects and explain their usefulness.
Review completed worksheets/drawings to assess understanding of the concept of design and their ability to name/use visuals to demonstrate learning.

Teacher Reflection Notes

Were the students able to use picture cues to understand "design"?
Did the varied activities maintain engagement and support all learners?
How did the visual and hands-on approaches assist in making abstract concepts concrete?
Use feedback for adapting subsequent lessons in the unit.

This lesson plan integrates the Australian Curriculum (v9) relevant to Foundation Technologies with concrete, age-appropriate activities and multiple representations including digital technology and First Nations Australian examples, supporting an inclusive and engaging classroom environment.

If you need, I can also provide lesson plans for subsequent lessons in "Designing Our World" or suggest digital resources suitable for early primary design technology learning.

Teaching Instructions