Design Technology - Eco Tote Bag (Upper Key Stage 2)

This unit of work forms part of the PrimaryDT scheme of work that features over 60 units of work designed to deliver outstanding outcomes for primary school children in design technology.
This unit of work has been revised and updated for 2026 and is based on delivering six sessions of design technology that are guided by high quality presentation slides accompanied by all the resources that are needed to deliver the lessons, including a knowledge organiser.

Comprehensive medium-term planning that includes
• Unit overview and sequence of learning
• Prior learning needed and links to other curriculum areas
• Learning statements (from our curriculum pathway document)
• List of resources and background information to support teaching and learning
• Key vocabulary for the unit of work
• Teaching activities (investigative and focus tasks)
• Teaching activities (designing and making)
• Advice for challenge and support strategies
• Assessment indicators that children are keeping up with the curriculum

Accompanying this revised unit is further information about the scheme of work and the progression chart and vocabulary list used when creating the scheme of work.

Design Brief: Design and make a tote bag to encourage people to be more eco-friendly.

Sequence of Learning for Teachers
In this unit of work children design, make and decorate a Tote Bag to encourage people to be more eco-friendly. Children learn about different types of bags and their functions and understand that designers will often design a product that has both function and is fashionable. Children have the opportunity to develop and consolidate their sewing skills and techniques when working with textiles. Each child makes an identical tote bag and through learning about graphic design, will make design decisions around the additional features to add to their tote bag and also about how to decorate their tote bag with a slogan and logo to promote an eco-friendly message.

This knowledge, skills and understanding is delivered through the following six sessions:

1. Investigate Task 1: Investigating Bags & Focus Task 1 – Fashion Designers and Mood Boards
2. Investigate Task 2: Newspaper Bag Challenge
3. Focus Task 2: Making a Tote Bag
4. Design and Make: Eco-Bag Designer
5. Design and Make: Adding the decoration.
6. Evaluation session.