Community Showcase Event

Lesson Overview

Duration: 45 minutes
Class size: 30 students
Unit: Upcycling: Creativity Meets Sustainability (Lesson 11 of 12)
Topic: Hosting a community event to present upcycled products

Curriculum for Wales Alignment

Areas of Learning and Experience (AoLE)

Science and Technology: Understanding sustainability and design
Humanities: Community and citizenship
Literacy: Presenting and communicating ideas clearly
Health & Well-being: Building confidence and social skills

Cross-curricular Themes

Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) – Building confidence in social interactions
Languages, Literacy and Communication – Speaking, listening, and explaining clearly
Health and Well-Being – Emotional well-being through positive engagement

Specific Curriculum Statements (Year 5, Age 9-10)

Science and Technology Statements:
- “I can discuss and consider the impact of design ideas on the environment and propose improvements.”
- “I can communicate scientific and design ideas to a range of audiences in a variety of ways.”
Humanities - DCFD:
- “I can take part in community activities designed for a purpose and reflect on their impact.”
Literacy:
- “I can organise information clearly to explain ideas and processes effectively to others.”
- “I can adapt my communication style to suit different audiences and purposes.”

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, pupils will:

Confidently present their upcycled product to an audience, explaining the materials and design choices.
Engage with community members and parents by responding to questions about their product.
Demonstrate teamwork and social skills in the context of a public event.
Reflect on feedback to consider future improvements to their upcycled products.

Success Criteria

I can introduce myself politely and explain my product clearly.
I can describe why I chose specific materials and how they help the environment.
I can listen to questions and answer them thoughtfully.
I can support my peers during the event by helping or encouraging them.
I can collect and record feedback for future improvements.

Resources

Student upcycled products from previous lessons
Feedback forms (simple structured sheets)
Name tags for presenters and helpers
Clipboards or tablets for recording feedback
Notice board or display tables set up for products

Lesson Structure

Starter (5 minutes)

Brief whole-class discussion to remind pupils of the journey: What have we learned about upcycling and sustainability?
Review roles for today (presenters and helpers) assigned based on student preference and confidence levels.
Quick “presentation skills” recap: voice projection, eye contact, clear explanation.

Main Activity: Community Showcase (35 minutes)

Part 1: Set-up and final preparation (5 minutes)

Pupils arrange their products on display tables.
Helpers assist with setting up feedback forms and guiding visitors.
Presenters gather their talking points.

Part 2: Hosting the Event (30 minutes)

Community members and parents arrive and circulate.
Presenters engage with visitors, explain their products, focusing on design choices and sustainability impact.
Helpers manage crowd flow, assist presenters, and distribute/collect feedback forms.
Teachers and assistants support pupils personally if needed (e.g., prompting or helping shy pupils).

Plenary: Reflection and Feedback (5 minutes)

Gather pupils for a quick circle time.
Share thoughts: What went well? What was challenging?
Discuss some key feedback points from visitors.
Encourage pupils to think about ideas for improving their products or presentations in the final lesson.

Differentiation

For less confident pupils:
- Assign the role of ‘helper’ to support peers, reducing pressure to speak publicly.
- Provide prompt cards with key phrases about their product.
- Pair with a buddy for co-presenting.
For English as an Additional Language (EAL) learners:
- Use visuals and vocabulary lists about materials and sustainability.
- Pre-teach key words and phrases for their presentation.
For advanced learners:
- Encourage them to collect detailed feedback from visitors, including suggestions for design or sustainability improvements.
- Suggest they create a simple survey or rating system and analyse responses after the event to prepare for the final lesson.
- Prompt them to consider how their upcycling project could be shared more widely in the community (e.g., social media, news articles).

Assessment

Formative Assessment: Observation of pupils’ presentation and engagement during the showcase. Use a simple checklist for communication skills, confidence, and interaction.
Peer and Visitor Feedback: Review the feedback forms collected.
Self-Assessment: Post-event pupil reflection on their own success criteria met.

Extension Activities

Pupils write a short “story” or blog post about their upcycled product and experience presenting it to the community.
Plan a mini-exhibition or digital photo diary to share their upcycling journey on the school website or newsletter.
Organise a sustainability-themed debate using ideas and questions from the community event.

Teacher’s Notes

Ensure seating and display areas are accessible to all visitors and learners.
Prepare the room in advance to maximise flow and interaction.
Encourage a positive, celebratory atmosphere to boost pupil confidence and pride in their work.
Use this event to build partnerships with local community groups for ongoing sustainability projects.

This community showcase lesson is a powerful opportunity for pupils to consolidate their learning about sustainability, design, and communication within the real-life context of their local community — directly supporting the Curriculum for Wales aims of developing ambitious, capable learners and ethical, informed citizens.

Teaching Instructions