Lesson at a Glance | He Tirohanga Whakamua
NgΔ WhΔinga Ako | Learning Intentions
Students will know
- The 3 core principles of the Circular Economy (Design out waste & pollution, Keep products & materials in use, Regenerate natural systems).
- Specific technical design strategies: design for disassembly, material passports, repairability, and take-back systems.
- How Aotearoa businesses are pioneering circular loops.
Students will demonstrate
- By applying at least two circular principles to redesign the lifecycle of their chosen product.
- By completing Design Journal Section 4: Circular Redesign.
Do Now | TΔ«matanga Whakaaro (10 min)
Question for Pair Discussion:
"In a natural forest or wetland, where is the landfill? What happens to fallen leaves, dead trees, or animal waste?"
Unpack: Nature has zero waste. Every output from one organism becomes the biological input for another. Human industrial technology is the only system on Earth that creates "waste" β materials that cannot be safely absorbed or reused. A circular economy redesigns human technology to work like an ecosystem.
3 Principles of Circular Design (15 min)
1. Design Out Waste & Pollution
Prevent waste at the design stage rather than trying to manage it at the end. Eliminate hazardous chemicals, single-use plastics, and un-separable composite materials.
2. Keep Materials in Use
Design products for longevity, easy disassembly, repair, refurbishment, and high-grade recycling. Use standard screws instead of glue.
3. Regenerate Natural Systems
Return nutrients safely to the soil (compostable bio-materials) and shift energy inputs to 100% renewable power sources.
π³πΏ Aotearoa Case Study: Icebreaker Circular Merino
NZ apparel brand Icebreaker launched their Plastic Free campaign, moving from synthetic blends back to 100% natural merino wool. At the end of life, a 100% wool garment biodegrades into soil in ~6 months, returning nitrogen and organic matter to the land β a complete biological loop.
Activity: Circular Redesign Workshop (15 min)
Students take the product they mapped in Lesson 3 and apply 3 Circular Redesign Strategies:
- Design for Disassembly: How will your product be taken apart in under 2 minutes without specialised industrial tools?
- Material Passport: How will a user or recycler know exactly what materials are inside so they can be recovered?
- Take-Back & Repair Loop: How will the company or community maintain, repair, or take back the product at end of use?
π Design Journal β Section 4: Circular Redesign
Students open their Design Journal and write Section 4:
Section 4 Requirements:
1. Circular Loop Sketch: Draw a closed-loop diagram showing how your product moves from Make β Use β Recover β Remake.
2. Disassembly Feature: Describe ONE specific physical change you will make to the product so it can be taken apart easily (e.g. clip fasteners instead of glue, standard hex screws).
3. Material Choice: Specify ONE sustainable material (e.g. bio-composite, recycled aluminium, NZ wool) that replaces a toxic/single-use component.
Exit Commitment | Ka Mutu Hoki (5 min)
Exit Ticket Question:
"The circular design principle I will apply to my product is [Principle 1, 2, or 3] by [Specific design modification]."
Teacher Planning & Curriculum Alignment
NZ Curriculum Alignment (Technology β Phase 3 / Years 9β10):
- Technological Products: Evaluate how material selection and joint/fastener design enable or prevent material recovery.
- Technological Practice: Develop concepts that minimise environmental degradation and incorporate circular principles.
Vocabulary: Circular economy, linear economy, design for disassembly, material passport, bio-degradation, closed-loop.