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Design a Healthy Sandwich Brief: Free Printable Worksheet for Year 3
- ForYear 3
- StageKey Stage 2
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Design a Healthy Sandwich Brief is a free printable design and technology worksheet for Year 3 (ages 7 to 8). Children read a design brief, choose healthy fillings, draw and label their sandwich, and then evaluate it. It needs only a pencil. Page 2 gives the grown-up notes on how to use the sheet, help for children who find it hard, and a stretch idea.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children start by reading a design brief, which tells them what their sandwich needs to be. They then choose healthy fillings and plan their design. There is space to draw the sandwich and add labels, so anyone can see what is inside. The sheet also has lines for writing, so children can explain their choices and say how well their design works. The work on the page is all thinking, drawing and writing.
Thinking like a designer
Start with the brief
A brief is the starting point for any design. Read it slowly and pick out the key words. Ask who the sandwich is for and what it needs to do. Every choice that follows should link back to it.
Choose the parts
A sandwich has a few parts to decide on. There is the bread or wrap, the spread, the main filling and any extras. Children can think about taste, texture and colour for each part.
Draw and label
A good design drawing shows what is inside as well as outside. Labels with short arrows tell the reader what each part is. Neat, clear labels make the design easy to follow.
Judge the result
Designers check their work against the brief. Children can say what works well and what they would change. A reason such as "because" makes the judgement much stronger.
Why design a sandwich?
Design and technology asks children to design, make and evaluate things that meet a need. A sandwich is a good first product because it is familiar. Children already know what they like to eat, so they can focus on the process of following a brief, making choices and explaining them. There is no need for special equipment on the page.
The National Curriculum for England includes cooking and nutrition in design and technology. At Key Stage 2 children learn about healthy and varied eating and how food is prepared. Planning a sandwich on paper lets them think about these ideas in a simple way. It also gives them practice at giving reasons for their choices.
Ask a grown-up about allergies before choosing any food, and check what is safe for everyone who will eat the sandwich. Adults do all the cutting and any work with knives. Adults also do any other dangerous kitchen job, such as using hot items. The sheet itself is a paper design task and needs no cooking.
Sandwich facts for curious minds
- Bread is made mainly from flour, and flour is made by grinding grains such as wheat.
- Wraps, pittas and bagels are all kinds of bread that can hold a filling.
- Wholemeal bread is made using the whole grain of the wheat.
- Vegetables such as cucumber and lettuce contain a lot of water, which can make a sandwich feel fresh and crunchy.
- Sandwiches can be eaten cold or toasted, and people around the world make them in many different ways.
Skills and curriculum link
- Reading a design brief
- Planning
- Designing
- Labelling a drawing
- Evaluating
- Giving reasons
This sheet supports the area below. It is matched to the published England framework. Please check it against your own school plan.
| Framework | Subject or area | Strand | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Curriculum (England) | Design and Technology | Design | Year 3 |
| National Curriculum (England) | Design and Technology | Cooking and nutrition | Year 3 |
What children will be able to do
- I can read a design brief.
- I can choose healthy fillings for my sandwich.
- I can draw and label my design.
Ideas to help you guide your child
- Talk about the briefAsk your child to say the brief in their own words before they start. If they can explain it, they can design to it.
- Compare food groupsTalk about the different kinds of food in a meal, such as grains, proteins, fruit and vegetables. Ask which parts a sandwich could include.
- Encourage detailAsk what the bread feels like, what the filling tastes like and what colours the sandwich has. Detail makes designs and labels better.
- Praise the reasoningA choice with a good reason matters more than a perfect drawing. Listen for words such as because and so that.
Key words
- BriefA short set of instructions that tells a designer what they need to make.
- DesignA plan for how something will look and work before it is made.
- FillingThe food that goes inside a sandwich.
- LabelA short word or phrase that names a part of a drawing.
- EvaluateLook at your work and say what is good and what could be better.
- HealthyGood for your body. Healthy food helps you grow and have energy.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes for you.
- Ask about allergies first. Remember that a grown-up does all the cutting and any knife work.
- Read the brief aloud together. Talk about what it asks for before your child chooses fillings.
- Let your child plan, draw and label the design, then write about it on the lines. Talk about each choice as they go.
- Check against the notes on page 2. Come back another day and try a new brief or design. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Read the brief together and say it in your own words. Talk through the parts of a sandwich one at a time. A helpful tip from the sheet is to include a fruit or vegetable. Draw first, then add labels once the picture is done.
To stretch confident children
Draw a picture of your sandwich on the back of the sheet. Show it from the side, so the layers can be seen. Add labels and a short note on why you chose each part. Then explain your design to someone else.
Make it a game
Taste test it. A grown-up makes the sandwich from your design and does all the cutting. Then taste it and write what you think. Say what you liked, what you would change and why.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forThe drawing has no labels, so no one can tell what is inside.
Try thisAsk, "If I could not see your picture, how would I know what is in it?" Then add short labels with arrows.
Watch forFillings are chosen only because the child likes them, without checking the brief.
Try thisRead the brief aloud again. Ask how each filling fits what the brief asks for, and change any that do not.
Watch forThe evaluation just says "It was nice" or "It was good".
Try thisAsk for one reason and one change. Try "I liked it because..." and "Next time I would...".
Talk about it
- What does the brief ask your sandwich to do?
- Why did you choose these fillings?
- What would you change if the sandwich was for someone else?
- Which part of your design do you like best, and why?
- How could someone tell what is in your sandwich just from your labels?
- What does healthy mean to you?
Take it off the page
Sandwich shop menu
Make a small menu on paper for an imaginary sandwich shop. Draw and name three sandwiches and write a short line about each.
Design for a friend
Ask a family member what they like to eat. Draw a sandwich just for them and explain why it suits them.
Food group sort
Cut pictures from old food magazines or draw foods. Sort them into groups, then choose some that could go into a sandwich.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit with your child for the first go and let them lead. Ask about allergies, and keep all cutting and knife work for adults. Praise the reasons they give, not only the finished drawing.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing. It fits the design and cooking and nutrition strands, and page 2 has help and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups.
Home educators
Print it as part of a wider design and technology plan. It pairs well with a trip to the shops, talk about food groups, or making a real sandwich together. Reuse it for brothers and sisters or to revisit later.
Where this fits in learning
Before this sheet, children benefit from everyday talk about food. They can think about what they like, where food comes from and why we eat different things. They also build the habit of drawing a plan before making something.
After this sheet, children can try designing other products to a brief, such as a playground. They can also practise evaluating things they use every day. The Mini Minds Hub has other design and technology printables, including Design a Playground Planner, which is the same subject one year up.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- What does the brief ask your sandwich to do?
- Why did you choose these fillings?
- What would you change if the sandwich was for someone else?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Design a Healthy Sandwich Brief for?
It is written for Year 3 (ages 7 to 8), in Key Stage 2. Children a little younger or older may enjoy it too, with more or less support from a grown-up.
- What will children practise?
They practise reading a design brief, choosing healthy fillings, drawing and labelling a design, and evaluating it. These cover planning, designing and evaluating in design and technology.
- Does my child need to make the sandwich?
No. Page 1 is a paper activity. If you do make the sandwich afterwards, ask about allergies first. A grown-up does all the cutting and any knife work.
- What if it feels too hard?
Read the brief together and talk it through in your own words. A tip from the sheet is to include a fruit or vegetable. Draw first, then add labels.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers and sisters or to revisit the activity later.
- Can teachers use it in class?
Yes. It works as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing, and page 2 has support and stretch ideas.
- Is it screen free, and do I need colour?
Yes, it is screen free and needs only paper and a pencil. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper, so you do not need colour.
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Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.