STEM Design Brief

Overview: The year one students have been learning about how everyday materials can be
changed in a variety of ways. Specifically, they have been looking at the materials of objects
that can be bent, stretched, twisted, scrunched, torn, or mixed together with another
material to change it physically. As an activity to show their understanding of the concept
children have been challenged with the activity of created a card for someone of their
choosing. An extra challenge has been added to this by asking the student to include at least
two physical changes in the process of making their card. This activity will be broken up into
several lessons to focus on the planning, creating, and evaluation of the product and to
include STEM learning.

Overarching Ideas
SCIENCE
Physical change: Students analyse and investigate materials that can be physically changed.
Students create physical changes for purpose (create a card). Students reflect on finished
product to discuss how elements were physically changed.
Planning: Students participate in guided exploration and planning of a challenge posed to
them.
Observations: Students represent and communicate their findings in a variety of different
ways e.g. through the card and through video reflection.

TECHNOLOGY
Software: Students begin to use ICT software for a purpose: create a list of resources they
would like using word.
Hardware: Students explore how hardware can be used to record data: take pictures of the
process of creation to use as a tool of reflection and presentation.

ENGINEERING
Visual Art: Students use multiple materials to plan and construct a finished product.
Students explore opportunities for design

MATH
Patterns & shape: Student explore how shape can be created by physically changing
everyday materials.
Form: Students investigate how changing the form of an object can change its form and
function.
Scale & Measurement: Students informally measure materials needed and compare the
scale of elements they have selected to apply to their card.

Lesson one: Set challenge to students. As a class brainstorm what a card might look like or
include. Explore ICT software of word document to answer the following questions. What
they know about physical change? Examples of materials that can be physically changed.
Creating a list of materials, the students may want for their card design.
Lesson two: Creating a draft. Plan what elements they want to go onto their card by drawing
and labelling. In this lesson explore shape, scale and measurement and opportunities for
design.

Lesson Three: Construct card.

Lesson Four: Reflect on card by doing partner led interviews (using ipad to film) to discuss
what elements students placed on their card and what types of physical change they had to do
in order to make the card the way they wanted it.