MYP Design Year 1 · Grade 6 · Unit 4

Sustainable Design

A practical sustainability unit in which students investigate resources, product life cycles, material properties, and second-life strategies before creating and authentically evaluating a useful product from reclaimed materials.

10lessons
C + Dformally assessed
0required computer lessons
1second-life physical product

Second-Life Product Challenge

Students create a small useful product for a defined user or familiar use situation. At least one safe reclaimed material/component must play a purposeful structural or functional role. The finished product must be physically testable and suitable for authentic performance and user testing.

C.iL35 · plan considers resources/time and can be followed
C.ii–ivL35–36 · technical skills, functioning solution, list changes
D.i–iiL37 · relevant data-producing tests + success against criteria
D.iii–ivL37 · improvements + impact on user/target audience

How Assessment Works

Individual workshops collect evidence for specific MYP strands. Criterion achievement uses the complete set of evidence across all strands of that criterion, rather than a single strand by itself.

MYP Unit Focus

Key concept: Development · Related concepts: Resources, Sustainability

Global context: Globalization and sustainability · Exploration: consumption, conservation, scarcity; natural resources and public goods

Statement of inquiry: Responsible choices about resources can guide the development of useful products with a more sustainable second life.

ATL focus: research through material testing; thinking through sustainability evaluation; self-management through safe and purposeful making.

Lessons

L28

Sustainable Design Foundations

Main workshop: Material Journey Sort

Student material: Material Journey + Sustainability Starter

Assessment role: Concept / C practice

L33

Second-Life Product Challenge

Main workshop: Useful-Function Workshop

Student material: Challenge Brief + Success Criteria

Assessment role: C/D project launch

L36

Build + Refine Day 2

Main workshop: Build + Informal Checks

Student material: Refinement + Change Record

Assessment role: C.ii–C.iv summative evidence