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Session 01: Design Detectives 🔍

Overview

Grades: 1-2 | Duration: 30 minutes | Session: 1 of 17

Students become Design Detectives, discovering that everything around us was designed by someone to solve a problem or meet a need.

Session 01: Design Detectives

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, students will:

  • Recognize that objects are designed with purpose

  • Identify problems that designs solve

  • Begin thinking like designers

  • Connect human creativity to God-given gifts

Session 01: Design Detectives

Materials Needed

  • 📦 Collection of everyday objects (scissors, cup, shoe, pencil, backpack)

  • 📓 Design Detective journals

  • 🔍 Magnifying glasses

  • 🖍️ Crayons/pencils

  • 📋 "Design Detective" badges (paper)

Catholic Integration

Saint Connection

Blessed Fra Angelico — A Dominican friar who used his artistic talents to design beautiful paintings for God's glory.

Scripture

"Every good and perfect gift is from above." — James 1:17

Opening Prayer

Dear God, thank you for giving people creative minds to design things that help us. Help us be good designers who think about others. Bless our discovering today. Amen.

Lesson Procedure

Opening Circle (6 minutes)

  1. Detective Mission — "Today we become DESIGN DETECTIVES!"
  2. Everything is Designed — "Look around—someone DESIGNED everything you see!"
  3. Design Questions:
  4. WHO designed this?
  5. WHY did they make it?
  6. What PROBLEM does it solve?
  7. God's Gift — "God gave people creativity to design helpful things"
  8. Badge Distribution — Hand out Design Detective badges!

Main Activity: Design Investigation (18 minutes)

Part 1: Object Investigation (8 minutes)

  • Small groups receive everyday objects

  • Detective questions for each:

  • What is it?
  • What is it made of?
  • What problem does it solve?

  • How could it be better?

  • Record observations

Part 2: Class Share (4 minutes)

  • Each group presents one object

  • "This [object] was designed to..."

  • Class discusses: "What would life be without it?"

Part 3: Your Turn! (6 minutes)

  • Think of a problem you have

  • Draw a design that could solve it

  • Examples: Homework holder, snack carrier, toy organizer

  • Share with a partner

Design Detective Journal (4 minutes)

  1. Draw one object you investigated
  2. Write: "It was designed to..."
  3. Draw YOUR design idea

Closing Circle (2 minutes)

  1. Detective Discovery — "What surprised you about design?"
  2. Year Ahead — "We'll design and build all year!"
  3. Closing Prayer — "Thank you, God, for creative minds. Help us design things that help others. Amen."

Assessment

Observation Checklist:

  • Identified purpose of designed objects

  • Asked thoughtful questions

  • Created original design idea

  • Recorded in journal

Differentiation

For Students Who Need Support

  • Focus on 2-3 familiar objects

  • Partner investigation

  • Draw-only journal entry

For Advanced Students

  • Investigate more complex objects

  • Write about design features

  • Create detailed design plans

Wonder at Home 🏠

Family Activity: Be Design Detectives at home! Pick 5 objects and figure out what problems they solve. What objects could be designed better? Draw your improvement ideas!

Teacher Notes

  • Save Design Detective badges for year-long use

  • Start collecting interesting objects for future sessions

  • Journals will be used throughout the year

  • Connect to inventions and inventors

Next Session: Session 02 — Tower Power