T1-L08: Paper Boat No. 2 — Applying the Design Process

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Class:

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Folio: pp. 28–31

Outcomes: TE4-PPM-01 TE4-DES-01 TE4-MSC-01 Folio pp. 28–31

Learning Intention

We are learning to apply the full design process with documentation to improve our design outcomes.

Success Criteria

I can write a design brief for the paper boat challenge
I can research and plan using questions and sketches
I can build and test my boat design
I can evaluate my design and compare to my first attempt

✎

Do Now

Think back to your Paper Boat No. 1 from a previous lesson.

#	Question	Your answer
1	How many marbles did your boat hold?
2	What caused it to fail (sink, tip, leak)?
3	What ONE thing would you change?

📚

Key Vocabulary

Standard: Fill in the definition. | Support: Definitions shown in grey — read and copy into your folio. | Extension: Use each term in a sentence.

Term	Definition	Use in a sentence (Extension)
Design brief	A clear written statement of the problem, user needs, and constraints
Constraint	A rule or limit that shapes your design (e.g. materials, time, size)
Limitation	A weakness or restriction you cannot control (e.g. paper absorbs water)
Buoyancy	The upward force of water that makes things float
Annotation	Labels and notes added to a sketch to explain design decisions
Thumbnail sketch	A quick, small, rough drawing of a design idea
Iteration	The cycle of testing, finding problems, improving, and retesting

📝

Stage 1: Write Your Design Brief (Folio p. 28)

Write your design brief in full sentences. Include WHAT, WHO, and WHAT CONSTRAINTS.

Constraints (rules you MUST follow):

Limitations (weaknesses you cannot control):

🔎

Stage 2: Research & Plan (Folio p. 29)

Answer the research questions, then draw 3 thumbnail sketches with annotations.

#	Research Question	Your Answer
1	How does a boat float? (Hint: buoyancy)
2	Platform boat vs open boat — which is more stable?
3	How can you waterproof your boat?
4	What size should your boat be?

Thumbnail Sketches — draw 3 different ideas in your folio (quick and rough!). Then choose your best idea below:

Chosen design:

Why did you choose this design?

🚢

Stage 3: Build & Test (Folio p. 30)

Materials: 1 sheet A4 paper + 50 mm masking tape • Time: 15 min to build

Build Notes	Test Results
	Marbles held (Boat 2): Time before sinking: sec Marbles held (Boat 1): (from last time)

📋

Stage 4: Evaluate (Folio p. 31)

Answer ALL 6 reflection questions in full sentences.

#	Question	Your answer
1	Did your boat meet the design brief?
2	Was your design successful? Why or why not?
3	What problems occurred during building or testing?
4	What would you change if you built a third boat?
5	How did using the design process change your result?
6	How did you work with your partner? What went well?

🔵 Support — Scaffolded Design Brief Template

Use this template if you need help writing your design brief:

“I need to design and build a ________ that can hold ________ for ________ using only ________.”

Word Bank

design briefconstraintlimitationbuoyancy annotatethumbnailiterateevaluate waterproofsurface areafloatstable

🟠 Extension — Data Analysis

Complete the comparison table and calculate your improvement.

	Boat 1 (no planning)	Boat 2 (design process)	Improvement (+/−)
Marbles held
Float time (sec)

Challenge: Calculate the percentage improvement for marbles held.

Write a paragraph analysing your data: Why did results change?

🎫

Exit Ticket — Reflection

1. How did using the design process (brief, research, sketches) change your result compared to your first boat?

2. Give a specific example of how documentation helped your design.

✅

Self-Assessment

Success Criteria	Got it 🟢	Nearly there 🟠	Need help 🔴
I can write a design brief for the paper boat challenge	●	●	●
I can research and plan using questions and sketches	●	●	●
I can build and test my boat design	●	●	●
I can evaluate my design and compare to my first attempt	●	●	●