Lesson overview

In this design and technology Key Stage 3 (KS3) lesson, students will learn how real-world companies have approached reduce, reuse, refuse principles. This lesson is focussed on students understanding and applying principles of reduce, reuse, and refuse. Included are teacher resources for students to design their own sustainable fashion brand where they are empowered to apply their understanding of reduce, reuse or refuse practices.

Learning outcomes

• Describe world population trend from a graph
• Recognise resources as finite
• Describe examples of how to reduce, reuse and refuse
• Interpret data and identify trends
• Create a design for a new product

Lesson steps

1. What is happening to the world's population? (10 mins)
   Students interpret a graph forecasting the world population growth. Students link rising population with an increase in consumerism and identify finite (non-renewable) resources.
   
2. How can we reduce reuse and refuse? (15 mins)
   Students move between five buzz (talking) stations in groups. Each station is based on an example where real-world companies have applied reduce, reuse, refuse principles to a product or initiative. Students discuss each example.
   
3. Defining terms (5 mins)
   Students generate their own definitions of reduce, reuse and refuse.
   
4. Design your own fashion brand (10 mins)
   Students create their own fashion brand by selecting styles and materials based on trends, sales data, and their understanding of the 6 Rs.
5. Pitch (10 mins)
   Students pitch their designs.

England

Design and Technology Key Stage 3

Design

• Use research and exploration, such as the study of different cultures, to identify and understand user needs.
• Identify and solve their own design problems and understand how to reformulate problems given to them.
• Use a variety of approaches [for example, biomimicry and user-centred design], to generate creative ideas and avoid stereotypical responses.

Design and Technology Progression Framework

• DA6 -Understand how to reformulate design problems given to them.
• DA7 - Work confidently within a range of relevant domestic, local and industrial contexts, such as the home, health, leisure, culture, engineering, manufacturing, construction, food, energy, agriculture and fashion.
• DA11 - Analyse where human values may conflict and compromise has to be achieved.
• DB12 - Give oral and digital presentations and use computer-based tools.
• MA8 - Select appropriately from a wider, more complex range of materials, components and ingredients, taking into account their properties such as water resistance and stiffness.
• EB2 - The positive and negative impact that products can have in the wider world.