Designing Our Products

Unit: Market Day Innovations – Lesson 2 of 4

Year 4 Technology (Te Marautanga o Aotearoa aligned)

Duration: 45 minutes Class size: 20 students

Overview

In this lesson, ākonga (students) focus on designing their products for Market Day by creating visual sketches, listing materials needed, and considering branding. The learning emphasises creativity, customer needs, and cultural perspectives, incorporating principles from Te Marautanga o Aotearoa — fostering technology skills rooted in Māori worldviews and values, including kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and manaakitanga (care for others).

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, ākonga will be able to:

Te Marautanga o Aotearoa Technology Strand
Demonstrate understanding of product design processes by creating sketches (Hoahoa āhua ā-ake) and identifying materials (Rawa) needed to create a product.
Apply concepts of kotahitanga (unity) by considering customer needs collectively and how their product might serve their whānau and wider community.
Use whakamāramatanga (communication) to explain their design ideas clearly through drawings and oral descriptions.
Begin to develop an understanding of branding by associating design features with product identity and customer appeal.
Progression Statements (Year 4 level, Technology learning area)
Students use creativity to express ideas through visual communication tools such as sketches and diagrams.
Students identify basic resources required to make their designs tangible and discuss reasons for their choices.
Students engage in collaborative discussion to understand customer perspectives and preferences relevant to their product.
Key Competencies:
Relating to others: Sharing ideas respectfully and listening to peers' perspectives on design and customer needs.
Thinking: Planning and making decisions about design features and materials, considering practical and cultural values.
Using language, symbols, and texts: Creating sketches and labels to communicate ideas visually and verbally.

Resources

Sketching paper or design templates
Pencils, coloured markers/pens
Sample materials (fabric swatches, recycled paper, cardboard, glue, etc.)
Examples of branding on simple products (visual aids with logos, colours)
Whiteboard and markers for brainstorming
Customer persona cards (simple descriptions of likely customers with needs and preferences)

Lesson Breakdown

Time	Activity	Description	Outcome
0–5 min	Whakawhanaungatanga (Connecting)	Begin with a quick karakia or a group greeting. Briefly recap previous lesson about Market Day purpose. Use a brain-storming session on the whiteboard: “What kinds of products do people like to buy? What makes a product special?”	Engage students, recall prior learning, prepare mindset for creativity.
5–15 min	Exploring Design and Customers	Introduce the concept of product design: what it means to ‘design’ something (visualising, choosing materials, branding). Show examples of simple products and their branding. Discuss customers’ needs and preferences using persona cards to prompt empathy and kotahitanga.	Students understand customer needs and importance of design choices.
15–30 min	Design Sketching and Materials Listing	Students begin creating their own product designs on paper. Encourage clear sketches with labels showing parts and materials. Support them to include Māori motifs or cultural elements if relevant, fostering identity and belonging. Monitor and prompt thinking about materials that are sustainable/kaitiaki-friendly where possible.	Students produce draft designs and identify materials.
30–40 min	Branding and Sharing	Introduce simple ideas about branding: logos, product names, colours. Students add a ‘brand’ element to their design (a simple logo or product label). In pairs or small groups, students briefly explain their designs and receive positive feedback.	Students begin associating design with product identity and practise communication.
40–45 min	Reflection and Wrap-Up	Whole class reflects on learning: “What did you enjoy about designing your product? How do you think your product will help or appeal to customers?” Introduce next lesson focus (making prototypes).	Consolidate learning and set anticipation for next lesson.

Differentiation & Inclusion

Provide templates for students who need extra support with drawing or organising ideas.
Challenge more confident students to include cultural design elements or sustainability considerations in their product.
Use collaborative grouping so that students support and learn from each other’s ideas, encouraging diverse voices and perspectives.
Use te reo Māori words during the lesson to build language competency and cultural understanding, such as hoahoa (design), hoko (buying/selling), kaitiakitanga (guardianship), and manahau (enjoyment).

Assessment for Learning

Formative: Teacher observations during sketching and group discussions noting engagement with the design process and understanding of materials and customers.
Student self-assessment: At wrap-up, students share orally what they learned and what they included in their design, which shows their thinking and planning.
Peer feedback: In sharing, students give positive comments focusing on creativity and how well the product might meet customer needs.

Cultural Connections

Encourage incorporation of Māori design elements (patterns, motifs) in sketches where suitable.
Reflect on how products can serve their community, linking to manaakitanga (caring for others) and kotahitanga (working as one).
Use of tikanga (customs) and te reo Māori throughout lesson fosters a strong cultural identity and belonging in technology learning.

This lesson aligns with the Te Marautanga o Aotearoa Technology curriculum by focusing on creative design processes, planning, and communication embedded in Māori perspectives and values. It develops foundation skills in design and visual communication, connecting to students’ cultural contexts and enhancing competencies essential for Market Day innovations.

Teaching Instructions