Science. Designing Solutions: Materials, Products & User Needs – Stage 1 Unit 2

Take the stress out of planning with this complete, ready-to-teach STEM unit designed specifically for Stage 1 (Year 1–2) students. This engaging unit guides students through the design process, helping them understand how products are created to meet real-life user needs.

With 16 structured lessons, interactive slides, hands-on activities, and built-in assessment, this resource will keep your students engaged while hitting key Science & Technology outcomes (ST1-DDT-01).

WHAT’S INCLUDED

✔️ 16 detailed lesson plans (clear, structured & easy to follow)

✔️ PowerPoint slides for every lesson (engaging & student-friendly)

✔️ Hands-on STEM design project

✔️ Worksheets & activities (materials, design, evaluation & more)

✔️ Assessment tools (rubric, checklist & teacher assessment sheet)

✔️ Student self-assessment & reflection sheets

✔️ Real-world problem-solving tasks

WHAT STUDENTS WILL LEARN

Students will:

• Understand what products are and how they help people
• Identify and explain user needs
• Explore materials and their properties
• Follow a simple design process
• Plan, design and improve a product
• Present their ideas through a final pitch

PERFECT FOR

✔️ Stage 1 (Year 1–2) classrooms

✔️ STEM / Design & Technology lessons

✔️ Project-based learning

✔️ Relief teachers (super easy to follow!)

✔️ Teachers wanting a complete, no-prep unit

WHY TEACHERS LOVE THIS

⭐ No planning required – everything is done for you

⭐ Clear lesson sequence (perfect for busy teachers)

⭐ Engaging and age-appropriate

⭐ Strong links to real-world problem solving

⭐ Includes assessment, making reporting easy

UNIT STRUCTURE

Students progress through:

👉 Understanding products and user needs

👉 Exploring materials and their properties

👉 Learning the design process

👉 Creating their own product

👉 Presenting a final product pitch

FINAL TASK

Students design a solution to a real-life problem and present their ideas, explaining:

• The user
• The problem
• Their solution
• Materials used
• How it works

NSW CURRICULUM LINKS

Aligned to:

ST1-DDT-01 – Design and digital solutions are created through knowledge and understanding

✨ BONUS

Includes student-friendly checklists and reflection sheets to support differentiation and student independence.

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