New
New
Year 1

Sketching ideas

I can use a design specification to design a puppet.

New
New
Year 1

Sketching ideas

I can use a design specification to design a puppet.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The design brief requires us to make a puppet to use in a puppet show.
  2. A range of ideas can be drawn before deciding which one to choose to make.
  3. Sketching using pencils on paper is a way to presents our ideas.
  4. Talking about ideas helps designers choose the final design.

Keywords

  • Design specification - describes what a product has to do

  • Sketch - a quick drawing based on what you can see

  • Ideas - a suggestion

  • Design - planning how a product will look or work

Common misconception

Design ideas cannot be changed.

Design ideas can be changed during the final design and the making tasks. Designs might be changed because something does not work, there are other ideas which will work better or testing shows problems with part of a design.


To help you plan your year 1 design and technology lesson on: Sketching ideas, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Writing a class design specification will allow more time for the design ideas and guide the pupils.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Paper / worksheet for the design specification and pen, worksheet, pencils, rubbers, colouring pencils.

Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - equipment

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords to their meaning.
Correct Answer:sewing,to make stitches in fabric using a needle and thread

to make stitches in fabric using a needle and thread

Correct Answer:stitches,a loop of thread made using a needle

a loop of thread made using a needle

Correct Answer:thread,a thin strand of string used to sew

a thin strand of string used to sew

Q2.
Which of the following do you need to sew?
Correct answer: a needle
Correct answer: thread
paper
pencil
Q3.
A __________ stitch goes in one direction.
jogging
walking
Correct answer: running
Q4.
What can you use to hold the first and last stitch in place?
PVA glue
Correct answer: fabric tape
staples

Assessment exit quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
What is a design specification?
a description of what someone should do
a description of what a product doesn't do
Correct answer: a description of what a product has to do
Q2.
Match the questions to the user, purpose and needs.
Correct Answer:user,who will use your product

who will use your product

Correct Answer:purpose,what your product will be used for

what your product will be used for

Correct Answer:needs,what your product must have

what your product must have

Q3.
Designers record their ideas and imagination through…
photographs.
pictures.
Correct answer: sketches.
Q4.
What tools do you need to sketch?
Correct answer: paper
stapler
glue
Correct answer: pencil

Additional material

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