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Mobile phone technology
IETEducationIETEducation

Mobile phone technology

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The science behind communication technology From founding communications, such as the fire beacon, to being able to communicate with space, there is no denying that developments in communication have advanced at a rapid speed. This topic presents students with communications of the past, present and future, helping them to understand the principles that form the basis for these developments. Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links An engaging activity introducing students to the science behind communication technology, giving them an understanding of some of the vocabulary and concepts used. The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Download the activity sheets for free! All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Please share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation
What is Sustainable Energy?
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What is Sustainable Energy?

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What is sustainable energy? What is a carbon footprint? The “Energy Efficiency” curriculum explores the meaning of these terms and encourages students to research what they can do as a school community to save energy and reduce their carbon footprint. The activities use the example of Howe Dell Primary School, which was designed with the principle of sustainability. This provides a framework for students to compare their own school and identify simple energy-saving measures that they can implement to reduce their carbon footprint and save money. By studying Howe Dell Primary School, students can see how cutting-edge technology and science are being used to achieve sustainability goals. Activity overview Show the students the Green School film (available on the IET Education website). Ask them to briefly discuss, as a class, the following questions: What do we mean by “sustainable energy” resources? What types of sustainable energy resources are found in buildings today? What does “carbon footprint” mean, and how is it calculated? What is sustainable energy? Sustainable energy is energy that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It is energy from renewable sources that do not produce greenhouse gases or other pollutants. Sustainable energy is important for a number of reasons. It helps to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, which are a finite resource and produce greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. It also helps to improve air quality and create jobs in the clean energy sector. What is a carbon footprint? A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases emitted by an individual, organisation, event, or product. Greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere, which contributes to climate change. A carbon footprint can be calculated for any activity or entity. There are several different methods for calculating carbon footprints. They all involve measuring the amount of greenhouse gases emitted during a product or service’s production, transportation, use, and disposal. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity, students will be able to explain what “sustainable energy” and “carbon footprint” mean, and they will be able to describe and explain what sustainable technologies could be used in their school. Download the activity sheets for free! All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable so that you can tailor them to your students and your schools’ needs. The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, helpful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in the four devolved UK nations: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Please share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation
How to make a simple electrical circuit
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How to make a simple electrical circuit

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In this activity pupils will assemble a simple electric circuit. This is a great way for KS2 students to develop an understanding of how electric circuits function. This free resource could be used in KS2 as an engaging stand-alone activity to introduce circuits, as an introduction to a design and make project (such as the doorbell activity) or as an extension to add a powered element to another design and make activity (such as adding a motor to the ‘cardboard cars’ activity). This activity will take approximately 50-60 minutes. Tools/resources required Projector/Whiteboard Components: 2 x AA batteries in holder Electric motor (e.g. 3V 13100 Rpm DC Motor) 3 lengths of wire, each 100-150 mm long (only a single length is required if a battery holder with attached wires is used) Either: 2 metal split pin fasteners and 1 paper clip per pupil, or one switch per pupil Sticky tape or electrical insulation tape. If needed: wire cutters/strippers (to cut excess wire lengths) (Potential sources for these components include Rapid online and TTS group) Optional: Hole punches (ideally single hole punches) Pre-made models of the circuit, for demonstration Electrical circuits An electrical circuit is a group of components that are connected together, typically using wires. The wires are typically copper metal, which is highly conductive, coated with insulating plastic, to prevent electric shocks. The circuit must be continuous (i.e., have no breaks) to allow electricity to flow through the components and back to its source, such as a battery. Switches make a gap in the circuit to stop electricity flowing when they are open. The components included in an electric circuit could range from motors, light sources and buzzers to programmable integrated circuits. The engineering context Circuits form the basis of all electrical equipment, ranging from lighting in homes to televisions and computers. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity students will be able to construct an electrical switch, they will understand that a complete circuit is required for electricity to flow and they will be able to construct an electrical circuit. Download the free How to make a simple electrical circuit activity sheet! All activity sheets, worksheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Please share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation
User centered design poster
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User centered design poster

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Secondary classroom poster highlighting the design process focusing on the needs of the user at each stage. Download the single poster or order a full set of posters for free from the IET Education website.
Prosthetic devices
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Prosthetic devices

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The development of new materials with incredible properties is changing the way we live. From LCD TVs to super light airliners, these materials have quickly found their way into pretty much all of the modern technology around us. One area where modern materials have made a huge impact is in the development of prosthetic devices. Some of these devices are beginning to outperform ‘natural’ body parts. Activity info,  teachers’ notes and curriculum links to KS3 science materials Using the short video ‘Bionic Limbs’, this activity is a quick, engaging introduction to a KS3 science materials lesson looking at the properties of modern materials. It encourages students to think about how technology is changing our society by generating their own ideas for prosthetic devices that they think will be realistic in the near future. There are takeaways for KS4 biology and KS3 product design. The activity sheet includes teachers’ notes, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Download the activity sheet and quiz for free! All activity sheets and supporting resources (including film clips!) are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation.
Prosthetics imitating the human body
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Prosthetics imitating the human body

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Explore the body parts that can be replaced with prosthetic devices With the constant advancement in materials and prosthetic technology, this engineering activity for kids explores different materials and their suitability in the use of prosthetics for different body parts. Students will gather data on different materials to create a presentation that can be used to discuss new materials and the part that they play in the development of prosthetic devices. This free STEM resource is aimed at secondary school students. Students will be encouraged to think about how technology is changing our society. This lesson can be introduced by talking about skeletons. An anatomical skeleton can be used as a prop. Do you know what can be done when joints wear out in our skeletons? Students will be divided into teams and asked to come up with a list of body parts that can be replaced with prosthetic devices. Each team will explain their results to the rest of the class. Students can vote for the device they think is most likely to be made in the future. This activity will take roughly 15 minutes to complete. The engineering context The development of new materials with incredible properties is changing the way we live. From LCD TVs to super light airliners, these materials have quickly found their way into the modern technology around us. One area where modern materials have made a huge impact is in the development of prosthetic devices. Some of these devices are beginning to outperform ‘natural’ body parts. The resources within this, and the related activities, encourage students to investigate the properties of smart materials and carry out some data manipulation. Students will also explore the possible moral and ethical issues associated with people potentially choosing to replace healthy body parts with artificial prostheses because they offer higher performance. Suggested learning outcome By the end of this activity students will be able to explain what joints are and how they work. They will also be able to suggest links between modern technology and health. All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Please share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation
Design the trainers of the future
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Design the trainers of the future

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Designing footwear for sports use Trainers are one of the most commonly worn shoes in our culture. They provide comfortable support for our feet as we go about our active lives as students, athletes, educators and engineers. The design of trainers (and all athletic shoes) is based on how they will be used and is an example of bioengineering. This activity introduces the concept of research through product analysis to support the design process. The main activity involves designing a trainer. Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links In this activity, learners will use the theme of the London Marathon to respond to a design context, investigate existing products for inspiration and design a trainer. This activity could be used as a main lesson activity to develop skills in designing. It could also be used to introduce the review of existing products to inspire design solutions. Tools/resources required Pens, pencils and drawing instruments Variety of trainers/shoes for comparison The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download and are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. And please do share your learning highlights and final creations with us on social media @IETeducation
Book themed door display
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Book themed door display

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Decorating a classroom door with a book theme World Book Day is an annual event where people come together to celebrate and promote books and reading. This resource was inspired by World Book Day and supports the development of literacy by creating a decorated door that will inspire learners to find out more about books. When passing through the door, learners could imagine that they are exiting their normal reality into the reality created in that literature. The decorated door could be produced by a teacher or teaching assistant; however, here the learners themselves will design and create the displays. Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links In this activity learners will identify a favourite book and use this as inspiration to design a decorated door. This links reading in English, the design process in Design & Technology and the use of art skills to produce the design. This activity could be used as a main lesson activity, to support learners’ engagement in literacy. It could also be used as a learner-led means of generating class/door displays. All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download and are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. And please do share your learning highlights and final creations with us on social media @IETeducation or send them via email to IETEducation@theiet.org to be featured in our online gallery. Tools/resources required These will depend upon the designs, but could include: Paper and/or card, writing and colouring implements, lining paper etc. Access to an image bank, either printed out or electronic with access to a colour printer. Scissors and glue sticks. Sticky tack. A selection of books for inspiration. The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
What am I? Inputs and outputs
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What am I? Inputs and outputs

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Guess the device from a series of clues This is one of a series of resources to support the use of the BBC micro:bit in Design and Technology lessons. People are always looking for ways to save energy. It is estimated that the average UK homeowner could save up to £240 a year alone on the cost of lighting their home. In this unit of learning, learners will use the BBC micro:bit to develop a prototype for an LED based automatic home lighting system, designed to save energy. Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links This is an engaging starter activity where learners will extend their understanding of input and output devices used in the system and consolidate their learning. They will be able to develop their knowledge of components and both test themselves and their peers. The activity sheet includes teachers’ notes, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Download the activity sheets for free! All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation
Maths behind a heating system
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Maths behind a heating system

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This is a practical exercise in which students will utilise their mathematical knowledge to solve problems and apply formulas. Specifically, they will compute the length of pipes necessary for an underfloor heating system. They will also write a brief explanation of how a sustainable underfloor heating system operates. This can be effectively taught within mathematics or within design and technology, as part of resistant materials or product design. How long will this activity take? This activity will take approximately 60-90 minutes to complete Tools/resources required Green School film Projector/Whiteboard Measuring equipment e.g. tape measures or trundle wheels Squared paper The engineering context Sustainability is a key consideration in modern engineering practices. As the world faces pressing environmental challenges such as climate change and resource depletion, engineers must design solutions that not only meet the needs of society, but also minimise their impact on the planet. Sustainable engineering involves developing systems, products and processes that are socially, economically, and environmentally responsible. This can include reducing carbon emissions, optimising energy use, minimising waste, conserving natural resources, and designing products that can be recycled or repurposed at the end of their lifecycle. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity students will be able to describe the operation of a sustainable underfloor heating system and they will be able to create and apply mathematical formulae in a practical context. Download the free Maths Behind a Heating System activity sheet! All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Please share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation
Materials: Fit for purpose
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Materials: Fit for purpose

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Explore a range of engineered and smart materials The Materials fit for purpose activity comprises a series of short, focused tasks with a strong emphasis on developing creative thinking. Students explore a range of smart materials to identify why they have been specifically designed and engineered to provide the requisite properties and characteristics for a given purpose. This activity requires students to be creative when applying knowledge and understanding in science to a design and technology context. This has a predominantly design and technology, and engineering focus, although the activities could be used in science, either as starters or extension activities. Tools/resources required Projector/Whiteboard The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Download the activity sheets for free! All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download and are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. Please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation
Make a steady hand game
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Make a steady hand game

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Prepare a suitable housing for the circuity, assemble the circuit and produce a wand and maze layout for the game In this hands-on STEM project students will learn how to make and test a steady hand game circuit. They will prepare a suitable housing for the circuit, assemble the circuit themselves and produce a wand and maze layout for the game. This is a great way for primary school students to learn all about how simple circuits work and develop their understanding of what is meant by the terms ‘make’ and ‘break’ when referring to the flow of current around a circuit. This could be used as a one-off activity or as part of a wider unit of work focusing on electricity and electrical circuits. It could also be used in conjunction with the IET Education Primary Poster – Circuits and Symbols. This activity could be completed as individuals or in small groups, dependent on the tools, equipment and components available. Tools/resources required Plastic cups 350 mm lengths of 2 mm diameter copper wire 150 mm lengths of 2 mm diameter copper wire 150 mm lengths of 1 mm diameter copper wire Multi strand insulated wire or crocodile clips Solder 9 V batteries and clips 9 V buzzers with wires Masking and/or insulating tape Double sided tape and/or sticky pads Pillar drill or electric hand drill 2 mm drill bits Soldering equipment (soldering irons, stands, sponges) Wire cutters and strippers Safety glasses The engineering context Engineers need to be able to understand how basic electrical circuits work. This includes current flow, voltage and how to ‘make’ and ‘break’ circuits. This knowledge could be used when investigating, designing or making electrical and electronic circuits in the future. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity students will have an understanding of the terms ‘make and break’ when they refer to simple circuits. They will also be able to assemble, fit and test a simple circuit for a steady hand game and they will be able to safely and accurately drill holes in plastic. Download the activity sheets for free! All activity sheets, worksheets and supporting resources are free to download, printable and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Please share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation
Using fruit batteries to produce electricity
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Using fruit batteries to produce electricity

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Using lemons and limes to power an LED In this fun STEM activity learners will construct a series circuit consisting of four fruit batteries and an LED. They will learn about the main parts of a battery and how fruit can be used to provide enough voltage to light an LED. They will also investigate how the brightness of the LED changes depending on the number of fruit batteries used in the circuit. This is one of a set of resources developed to support the teaching of the primary national curriculum. They are designed to support the delivery of key topics within science and design and technology. This resource focuses on the use of fruit to power a light emitting diode (LED). This could be used as a one-off activity or as part of a wider unit of work focusing on electricity and electrical circuits. This activity could be completed as individuals or in small groups, dependent on the components and tools available. Lemons or limes can be used, or a mixture of both. Each lemon or lime should provide between approximately 0.7 and 0.9 V. This can be tested by using a multimeter if required. The total voltage of the series circuit can be calculated by adding up the voltage of each individual battery. This arrangement would produce approximately 2.8 – 3.6 V depending on the voltage of each individual piece of fruit. How long will this activity take? Approximately 40-65 minutes to complete. Tools/resources required Red and black crocodile clips Lemons and/or limes Zinc coated nails 50 mm lengths of 1 mm or 2 mm diameter copper wire Low voltage hi-bright LEDs Wire cutters The engineering context Engineers need to be able to understand how basic electrical circuits work. This includes the main parts of a battery and how they work to power electrical output devices. This knowledge could be used when investigating, designing or making electrical and electronic circuits in the future. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity students will understand how fruit can be used to make batteries that can power electrical output devices, they will know the main parts that make up a battery and they will be able to construct a series fruit battery circuit that lights an LED. All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Please share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation
Electrical safety outdoors poster
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Electrical safety outdoors poster

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Primary classroom poster showing useful rules to observe when using electricity both in and outside the home. Download the single poster or order a full set of posters from the IET Education website.
Radio waves poster
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Radio waves poster

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Primary classroom poster looking at how radio waves help us connect to our friends and families. Download the single poster here or order the full set of posters for free from the IET Education website.
Technology in sports
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Technology in sports

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In this engineering activity, students will work in groups to share their knowledge of the use of technology in sport. They will each give a 60 second presentation about the topic to their group. This task is aimed at secondary school students and could be used as a starter activity with ‘Create a portable beep tester’ as the main activity. It is an ideal exercise for learners to both demonstrate and develop their knowledge of the topic of technology in sport, and share with their peers. Activity introduction This activity encourages learners to recall information, helps learners develop their oral presentation skills and encourages learners to work together to develop their knowledge. The teacher will first state to students that they will be demonstrating their existing knowledge of the use of technology in sport. They will also be developing their knowledge further by working with other learners in this group and listening to their presentations. Learners will be expected to work in teams of four. Their topic to talk about will be ‘the use of technology in sport’. Each learner in the group will, in turn, speak about this topic to their team for 60 seconds. They must try not to hesitate, deviate or repeat any information! Each group of four will write a summary of the main points learnt and read it out the class. This can be both in terms of knowledge of the topic and oral presentation techniques used. The engineering context Sports Technology is an ideal topic for teaching about programmable components and embedded intelligence in products. These are key parts of the 2014 programme of study for Design and Technology at key stage 3. It is also an ideal vehicle for using the BBC micro:bit in the classroom and developing the product integration skills of learners. Technology in sport This is one of a series of resources to support the use of the BBC micro:bit in Design and Technology lessons. Technology can be used in sports to enhance performance and help participants to improve their fitness and stamina. For example, automated beep tests can be used to monitor fitness levels during training sessions and set targets for future improvement. In this unit of learning, students will use the BBC micro:bit to develop a prototype for an electronic beep test that can be used to help people monitor and improve their fitness levels. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity students will be able to describe how technology can be used in sport, present an oral presentation on the topic of technology in sport and they will be able to work as part of a team to develop their knowledge of technology in sport. Download the activity sheets for free! And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation.
Design a football pitch
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Design a football pitch

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Designing a football arena for the moon In this activity learners will make use of the theme of football on the moon to design a future football stadium for playing the game on the moon. They will think about the main design considerations and requirements for the stadium. They will then learn how to draw a football pitch step by step and produce annotated sketches of their idea. This is one of a series of resources that are designed to allow learners to use the theme of football on the moon to develop their knowledge and skills in Design & Technology, Graphic Design and Engineering. This resource focusses on learners designing a stadium for playing football on the moon. The teacher will introduce the theme of playing football on the moon, before introducing and discussing the design brief with learners. Learners will then have time to research and design their stadia for playing football on the moon. This activity can be simplified (particularly for less able students) by providing partially completed arena designs for weaker learners to add to and improve and/or providing card or paper cut outs of different arena elements that they could assemble to produce a finished design. As an extension learners can introduce vector illustration to their design or make a card scale model of the stadium and/or design a stadium for playing other sports on the moon, such as athletics, rugby, cricket or netball. How would the requirements of these differ from football? This activity is designed to take between 50-70 minutes. Tools/resources required Pens or pencils Coloured pencils Rulers Paper Computer and internet for research The engineering context Travelling and potentially living on the moon presents all sorts of challenges for engineers to overcome. For example, how will we breathe, how will we cope with much lower gravity, how will we play sports and keep fit, how will we develop the facilities to live happy, healthy and fulfilling lives? Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this free resource students will be able to understand the main considerations when designing sports stadia; design a stadium for playing football on the moon; and present design ideas as annotated sketches. All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Please share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation.
Easter vacuum forming project for KS3
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Easter vacuum forming project for KS3

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Use vacuum forming to make chocolate egg moulds In this Easter STEM project students will learn about the vacuum forming process and its applications. They will learn how to use a vacuum forming machine to produce a mould that they can then use to cast a handmade chocolate Easter egg. This challenge is aimed at secondary school students and could be used as a main lesson activity to teach learners about the use of vacuum forming, or as part of a wider scheme of learning covering either manufacturing processes and techniques or the integration of different disciplines within Design and Technology. This is one of a set of free STEM resources designed to allow learners to use Easter themes to develop their knowledge and skills in Design and Technology, Science and Mathematics. This resource focuses on using the vacuum forming process to create a mould for a chocolate Easter egg. Please note that this activity requires access to a workshop for vacuum forming and appropriate facilities for hygienic food preparation, such as a food technology room. In many school workshops there will only be one or two vacuum forming machines available for use. In this instance learners will need to take turns in using this equipment. They could be split into small groups to make this process less time consuming. This is a fun and engaging Easter STEM challenge and will take approximately 50-80 minutes to complete. Chocolate Easter Eggs Although chocolate was introduced to Europe in 1502, it was initially just made into drinks, like cocoa. Chocolate Easter eggs were first made in France and Germany in the 19th Century. The first chocolate egg in the UK was made in 1873 by J S Fry and Sons Limited. One of the challenges with making these eggs was to form their shape. Tools/resources required Half egg-shaped former Suitable material for forming, such as high impact polystyrene (HIP) Vacuum forming machine Stanley knife or other cutting tool suitable for trimming the edges of the formed plastic mould Chocolate for melting (either cooking chocolate or milk chocolate bars work well) The engineering context Engineers use vacuum forming for manufacturing a wide range of products, such as storage containers, children’s toys, baths, and food packaging. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this exercise students will have an understanding of the main stages of the vacuum forming process. They will also be able to use the vacuum forming process to create a mould for a chocolate Easter egg. Lastly, they will be able to cast a chocolate easter Egg from a vacuum formed model. Download the free activity sheets, along with a fun bonus crossword using the words from the activity to enhance learning. All activity sheets and supporting teacher notes, presentation and curriculum links are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs.
Boat design challenge – KS3 engineering
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Boat design challenge – KS3 engineering

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A fun engineering challenge for KS3 that will give students the opportunity to test boat hull designs in a test tank. Through this process, students will learn about the importance of applying relevant scientific and mathematical understanding when refining and developing an idea. This activity allows students to explore and develop their critical thinking and decision-making skills through a practical approach. The experiment ensures a ‘fair’ set of results is produced. The success of their overall boat hull design is directly dependent upon how well they apply their knowledge and understanding across the disciplines. In addition, key learning points needs to be reinforced through mathematics. The students could carry out initial research into different hull shapes used for various types of boat, and they should produce an image board of hulls with annotations to explain why the shape of the hull is appropriate for the particular type of boat. Types of boat hulls that could be researched include yachts, cruise ships, speed boats, fishing boats, container ships, and catamarans. This activity is designed to be taught through science and design and technology simultaneously, as a cross-curricular project and ideal for use in a STEM Club. However, it can also be tackled independently from each subject. Tools/resources required Test Tank (the construction is a fairly simple activity and can be undertaken by your KS3 students (as an after school activity) or by a technician) Vacuum Former High Impact Polystyrene/MDF or softwood blocks Optionally, modelling clay General Workshop Facilities Stopwatch Masses with a suitable holder The engineering context The focus of this activity is on the principle of hydrodynamics (a similar set of principles to aerodynamics but involving water). Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity students will be able to understand the importance of testing models and prototyping within the development of an idea, the need for streamlining in boat design and the principles of hydrodynamic design. Students will also be able to refine ideas in order to improve outcomes, they will be able to relate the shape of the hull to speed and the forces it needs to withstand maximum efficiency and they will be able to apply scientific and mathematical understanding to an engineering context. All activity sheets, worksheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Please share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation
Water supply
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Water supply

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Organise water filtration components to create a safe water supply system Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links This activity challenges students to work in small teams to design a water supply system for a small town of 5,000 inhabitants. They have to work within a budget, including giving themselves a profit margin. The activity offers strong opportunities for cross-curricular work with Enterprise. The ‘Catalogue of Components’ handout includes a list of possible parts from which students can include in their design of their filtration system. Water is crucial to human life, but it can also be a killer. Drinking or cooking water contaminated with micro-organisms or chemicals is a leading cause of disease and death across the world. Poor facilities for the disposal of sewage and other waste water can quickly lead to the spread of dangerous diseases. The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Download the activity sheets for free! All activity sheets and supporting resources (including film clips!) are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation