Intermediate
40 mins
Teacher/Student led
+70 XP
Teacher-led from the board — pupils need no device

Plan and Draft the Helper

In this lesson you will use empathy to find out about a user's awkward job by asking and watching. Draft several helper ideas, choose one and make a labelled plan with materials ready for building next time.

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    Investigation
    Design challenge
    Group discussion

    1 - Getting Started ~3 mins

    Illustration for Getting StartedSomeone in our school has a job that feels awkward. How could we help them without guessing what they need?

    Today we will ask, watch, and plan a helper. We will make it next time.

    2 - Ask and Watch First ~8 mins

    Key point

    One maker word and one maker habit for today:

    • User — the person we help.
    • Ask and watch — find out what feels awkward without guessing.

    Watch the board now. You will see one person asked about an awkward job, watched while they try it, and two quick helper ideas sketched before one is chosen and labelled. That is the same order you will follow with your partner in a few minutes.

    3 - Ask and Watch ~9 mins

    Illustration for Ask and watchYour teacher has put you with a partner. One of you is the user. Meet at your table.

    Ask what job feels awkward. Watch them try that job for a short time. Notice what is hard.

    Key point

    Then write three things on your Investigation Journal page: who the user is, what the awkward job is, and one thing you saw. No drawing of helpers yet.

    Be ready to tell the class those three things.

    4 - Draft, Choose and Label the Plan ~12 mins

    Your teacher will draw a sample plan on the board: two quick ideas, then one clearer drawing with two labels and a short materials list. Look at it before you start, because yours will have the same three parts.

    Work on your Investigation Journal page, one part at a time, and do only the part that is up on the board. There is a tray of card, tape, lolly sticks and fabric on your table so you can pick up the materials you might use, but nothing is built today.

    Note

    When it is time to talk about good points and tricky points, whisper with your partner. You do not write those down.

    Key point

    We make the helper next time, so your plan must be clear enough to build from.

    5 - Share Our Plans ~6 mins

    Join another pair. You have about two minutes to show your plan while they listen, then swap.

    Key point

    Say who your user is, what feels awkward, and which materials you chose. Give one kind comment that starts with I like… or I wonder…

    Pupil practice · Investigation Journal
    Module 5 · Engineering: Empathy, Plan, Make and Share
    Lesson 35 · Plan and Draft the Helper
    Download Investigation Journal sheet (PDF)
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