MYP Design Year 1 · Unit 4 · Lesson 31
Sustainable Design
L31 · 01

Reuse, Repair, Repurpose & Recycle

Keeping value in a product or material can happen in more than one way.

Student Materials
Second-life strategies
U
REUSEUse the product again for the same or similar purpose.
P
REPAIR / REPURPOSEFix the product or give its material/component a useful new job.
R
RECYCLEProcess material so it can become material for new products.
Use ← → / Space to navigate.Lesson 31 · Second life
Learning Focus
Choose an appropriate strategy
L31 · 02

By the end of today, students can…

01

Distinguish

reuse, repair, repurpose, and recycling.

02

Sort

components by what could happen next.

03

Defend

a second-life strategy for a specific item.

Concept + practical reasoningNo hierarchy without context
Mini-Lesson
The strategies are different
L31 · 03
Reuse

Refill and use the same container again.

Repair

Replace or fix a broken part so the original product keeps working.

Repurpose

Turn a clean packaging component into a different useful product.

Recycle

Send compatible material into a recycling system for processing.

Recycling is not the only “sustainable” action.Keep useful value where possible
Before You Choose
Ask what still has value
L31 · 04

Still works?

Reuse may need almost no new material.

Mostly works?

Repair may preserve more of the original product.

No longer useful as-is?

Repurpose or material recovery may make sense.

Real systems and local recycling rules vary.Context matters
Workshop
Component Sort
L31 · 05
Workshop

Inspect clean discarded components and decide what still has useful value.

STEP 01

Inspect

What is the material, shape, condition, and useful feature?

STEP 02

Sort

Reuse · repair · repurpose · recycle / dispose.

STEP 03

Defend

Explain one choice using the component’s condition and properties.

Use only clean, dry, safe components.Main workshop
Safety Filter
Not every discarded material belongs in class
L31 · 06

Teacher-approved reclaimed materials only.

YES

Clean corrugated card, cereal-box card, paper tubes, clean plastic containers/lids, fabric offcuts.

NO

Broken glass, sharp metal, food residue, chemical containers, unknown contaminated items.

CHECK

Any item with rough edges, staples, splinters, or uncertain cleanliness.

PREP

Wash/dry when appropriate and remove unsafe parts before class.

Teacher metadata can adapt to school rules.Safety first
Exit Reflection
Keep value in the system
L31 · 07

Finish one sentence.

“For the item _______, I would choose _______ instead of _______ because _______.”

Next lesson

Students analyse one existing product through a sustainability lens before launching the Second-Life Product Challenge.

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