aidemia--modules-lessonstartideas_type | Give a creative idea how to begin a lesson |
Which subject | Design and technology |
What age group | Year or Grade 9 |
What topic | |
Quantity | 1 |
Any other preferences |
To inspire students to think creatively about design and technology while understanding the importance of innovation in solving real-world problems.
Set the Scene: Start by placing a large covered box in the centre of the classroom. Tell students that inside the box are items that have been designed and produced using various technologies.
Create Curiosity: Ask the class to guess what might be inside the box. Encourage lively discussions and hypothesis-making. You might say, “Think about how these items we're designing can improve our daily lives—what do you think is in the box that could do that?”
Unveiling the Mystery: After a few moments of speculation, open the box and take out one item at a time. For each item, lead a brief discussion:
For example, if you pull out a spoon, you could discuss its design for usability and ergonomics, and how it can be improved.
Connecting to Curriculum: Transition into the lesson by explaining that every invention has a story—its purpose, the challenges faced during its design, and the impact it has on our society. Emphasise that today, they will begin exploring their own innovative designs as they tackle real-world issues.
Wrap up the activity by inviting students to think about the next great invention they could develop. Let them know that the aims for the lesson include brainstorming ideas for innovative solutions and learning about the design process. Encourage them to be bold and imaginative—no idea is too wild!
After this engaging introduction, seamlessly transition into the lesson on the design process, focusing on defining problems, ideating solutions, and prototyping. Students can then embark on individual or group projects related to their chosen problems, inspired by the items discussed from the "What's in a Box?" activity.
This engaging start sets a creative tone for the lesson and gets students thinking about the real-world applications of design and technology!