Design a pair of futuristic sunglasses

In this fun engineering activity for KS3, learners will design a pair of sustainable and futuristic sunglasses for young professional adults of the future.

This activity can be used as a stand-alone lesson to teach learners about generating design ideas and sketching or as part of a larger unit on design processes and techniques. It can also be used as an introduction to sustainability issues, such as the negative impact of plastic waste on the environment.

Activity: Design a pair of futuristic sunglasses

This resource is part of a set that allows learners to use seasonal themes to support the delivery of key topics in design and technology, and engineering. It is designed for the summer and can be used in school or at home. It can also be used for Plastic Free July.

This resource focuses on designing a pair of futuristic, sustainable sunglasses that are plastic-free.

Students can use the handout activity sheet or a blank piece of paper to create their design. Encourage them to be creative and think outside the box! They must annotate their design to show how it meets the requirements of the design brief and specification, which are shown on slides 3 and 4 of the teacher presentation.

As an extension, students could create a model of their design or develop a more detailed design specification.

How long will this activity take to complete?

This activity will take about 60-90 minutes to complete. Teachers can download the activity sheet below for a detailed lesson plan. Parents can download the family sheet for a guide on how to help their children design a pair of futuristic sunglasses at home.

The engineering context

Sketching is a valuable tool for designers and engineers to use in the early stages of the design process to generate ideas and explore concepts.

Designers and engineers need to be creative and innovative in their approach to problem-solving, and they must be able to meet the specific requirements of a design brief.

Engineers have a moral and ethical responsibility to design products and systems that are sustainable and environmentally friendly. This means using sustainable materials and processes and minimising the environmental impact of their designs.

Suggested learning outcomes

By the end of this activity, students will be able to understand the purpose of sunglasses in terms of both functionality and aesthetics, they will be able to design a pair of futuristic and sustainable sunglasses, they will understand the importance of reducing plastic waste, and they will understand the application of new materials and technologies.

Download the free activity sheet below!

All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable so that you can tailor them to your students and your schools' needs.

The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, helpful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in the four devolved UK nations: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Please share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation