Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Evaluating a Product Sheet: Free Printable Worksheet for Year 4
- ForYear 4
- StageKey Stage 2
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Evaluating a Product Sheet is a free printable design and technology worksheet for Year 4 (ages 8 to 9). Children look closely at a real everyday product. They say what is good about it, what is not so good, and how it could be improved. It needs only a pencil, and page 2 gives the grown-up notes, help ideas, a stretch task and the answers.
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 choose a real product, hold it and look at it closely while they write. They say what is good about it, what is not so good, and how it could be improved. The sheet has lines for writing, so children put their thinking into their own words. The aim is to give reasons, not only opinions like 'it is nice'. Page 2 is for the grown-up.
Ideas for choosing a product
A water bottle
Children can look at the lid, the grip, the size and how easy it is to clean. Ask who uses it and where.
A school bag
Look at the straps, the pockets and how easy it is to open and close. Ask whether it suits the person who carries it.
A lunch box
Check the catch, the shape and whether things fit inside. Ask what happens when it is carried or dropped.
A game box or toy
Look at how it opens, how it stores and how clear the instructions are. Ask whether it is easy to put away.
Why learn to evaluate products?
In design and technology, evaluating means judging how well something does its job. Designers do not just make things. They look at what already exists and ask what works and what does not. They also ask the people who use a product what they think. Year 4 children can start doing the same with everyday objects they already know well.
A good evaluation gives reasons. Saying 'it is good' tells us little. Saying 'it is good because the handle is easy to hold' tells us something we can act on. Once a child can explain a problem, they can suggest a change. That link between judging and improving is at the heart of the sheet.
An adult should choose the product. Pick something safe to handle that is not hot, sharp or easily broken. Avoid anything from the kitchen that is hot or has a blade.
Skills and curriculum link
- Evaluating
- Giving reasons
- Improving designs
- Looking closely
- Writing opinions clearly
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 | Evaluate | Year 4 |
What children will be able to do
- I can say what is good about an everyday product.
- I can say what could be better and why.
- I can suggest an improvement to a product.
Ideas to help your child think
- Think about the userEvery product is made for someone. Ask who uses it and what they need it to do. This gives children something firm to judge it against.
- Look at the partsEncourage children to look at the shape, the size, the material and how it works. Small parts are easier to judge than the whole thing.
- Ask for a reasonIf a child says something is good or bad, ask 'how can you tell?' This turns an opinion into a reason.
- Link a problem to a changeWhen a child finds something that could be better, ask what small change might fix it. Then ask how that change helps the person using it.
Key words
- ProductSomething that is made to be used or sold.
- EvaluateDecide how good something is, and give reasons.
- ImproveMake something better.
- PurposeThe job a product is made to do.
- FeatureOne part or detail of a product, such as a handle or a lid.
- UserThe person who uses a product.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers.
- Choose a real product to hold and look at while you write. An adult picks something safe to handle.
- Work through the sheet together the first time. Talk about each choice and ask for reasons.
- Check against the notes and answers on page 2. Listen for the thinking, not only the words.
- Come back to it another day with a different product. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Give your child the sentence start 'I like it because'. Let them finish it out loud before they write. Start with the one thing they like best about the product. Then ask what they would change, and help them add 'because' to explain.
To stretch confident children
Draw an improved version of the product on the back of the sheet. Label each change you have made. Next to each label, write a short reason that explains how the change helps the person who uses it.
Make it a game
Ask a friend to use the product and tell you what they think. Listen carefully and write down what they say. Then compare their ideas with your own. Did you notice the same good points and the same problems?
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forA child writes only 'it is nice' or 'it is bad'.
Try thisAsk 'what makes it nice?' or 'how can you tell?' Help them name a part of the product and say what it does.
Watch forA child says what is wrong but gives no idea for fixing it.
Try thisAsk 'what small change would help?' Let them point to the part they would change and say how it would be different.
Watch forA child judges the product on whether they like the colour or if it belongs to them.
Try thisRemind them that the product has a job to do. Ask how well it does that job for the person who uses it.
Talk about it
- What is this product for, and who uses it?
- Which part of it works best? How can you tell?
- Is there a part that is awkward, or does not work as well as it could?
- What is the first thing you would change?
- How would your change help the person using it?
- Would you choose this product over a different one? Why?
Take it off the page
Product detectives
Pick three objects from around the house. For each one, say its job and one thing it does well. Then say one thing that could be better.
Quick redesign
Choose something you use every day, such as a pencil case. Draw a new version on paper and label what you have changed and why.
Test and tell
Ask someone at home to try a product while you watch. Notice what is easy and what is tricky for them, then talk about it together.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit with your child for the first go and let them lead. Choose a product they know well so they have plenty to say. Praise clear reasons, even if you would judge the product differently.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, a plenary or an early finisher task. It also works for homework or as a table activity with a real product on each table. Page 2 has support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups.
Home educators
Pair it with everyday life. Let your child evaluate something from the house, then redesign it. It can be repeated with a new product for brothers and sisters, or revisited a few weeks later.
Where this fits in learning
Before this sheet, children usually learn to talk about objects and what they are for. They also learn to say what they like and dislike. In Year 4 they begin to back up their views with reasons and to suggest changes.
After this sheet, children can use the same thinking when they design their own products. Evaluating existing products helps them set out what a good design needs to do. They can then judge their own work in the same way.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- What does this product do well, and how can you tell?
- What would you change first, and why?
- How would your change make it better for the person using it?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Evaluating a Product Sheet for?
It is written for Year 4 (ages 8 to 9), in Key Stage 2. Children in nearby year groups can try it too, with more help for younger children and a bigger challenge for older ones.
- What will children practise?
They practise judging an everyday product and suggesting improvements. They say what is good, what is not so good, and how to make it better, and they give a reason each time.
- Which product should we choose?
Choose a simple, safe object your child knows well, such as a water bottle or a school bag. An adult picks it. Avoid anything hot, sharp or easily broken.
- What if my child finds it hard?
Give them the sentence start 'I like it because'. Let them say it out loud first. Then ask what they would change and why. Small steps and plenty of talk usually help.
- Is it free to use?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers and sisters, or to try it with a different product.
- How long does it take?
There is no set time. Let your child take as long as they need, and stop when they lose interest. You can come back to it another day with a different product.
- Is it suitable for teachers and home educators?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. Home educators can use it alone or as part of a wider design and technology plan.
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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.