524Uploads
221k+Views
119k+Downloads
All resources
Explore electrical resistance
Testing the electrical resistivity of different materials
In this activity learners will make use of the theme of electrical resistance to experiment with an electronic circuit. They will learn how to use an electronic multimeter and will then apply their skills to test the electrical resistivity of various materials.
This activity could be used as a main lesson activity to teach about resistors and their use. It could also be used as part of a wider scheme of learning focussing on the selection of materials for different applications.
This is one of a series of resources developed in association with the National Grid ESO, to allow learners to use the theme of electronics to develop their knowledge and skills in Design & Technology and Science. This resource focusses on practical experiments investigating the resistance of different materials. National Grid ESO ensure that Great Britain has the essential energy it needs by ensuring supply meets demand every second of every day.
The teacher will explain what is meant by resistance and then explain the task to the learners through a series of practical hands-on activities. At the end of the session the teacher will get the learners back together to discuss their findings.
This activity can be simplified (particularly for less able students) by setting up the multimeter in advance to the correct range before handing to learners.
This activity is designed to take between 45-70 minutes.
Tools/resources required
Multimeters (digital or analogue)
Assorted resistors, including 33kΩ
Breadboards
Crocodile clips
Pencils and paper
Glass of water
Table salt
Selection of materials (for the extension activity)
The engineering context
Many components, such as integrated circuits, can be damaged by high current. An understanding of resistance allows electrical engineers to select resistors to protect these components, ensuring the effective and continued operation of the electronic devices.
Suggested learning outcomes
By the end of this free resource students will be able to choose materials based on their resistivity; understand the basics of resistance; and be able to use electronic devices to measure resistance.
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.
Count using hieroglyphics
Learn how to write numbers in hieroglyphics
Through this activity students will learn what hieroglyphics are and how they were used by the ancient Egyptians. They will then discover how to write numbers in hieroglyphics and how to use them to carry out basic numeracy functions. This fun activity will test students’ maths abilities, as well as teach them historical facts about ancient Egypt. Resources are included to provide support for teachers.
Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links
In this activity learners will discover how to write numbers in hieroglyphics. This could be used as a main lesson activity, to teach learners about the works of the ancient Egyptians contributing to learning in D&T, History and Mathematics or as an alternative method of reinforcing learning in basic numeracy.
Additionally, this could be used to start a discussion on Ancient Egypt or to introduce the concept of people using different languages. It could also be used in conjunction with the other IET activities in this theme, ‘Making Papyrus’ and ‘Write like an Egyptian’.
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.
Downloadable content
• Count using hieroglyphics activity
• Count using hieroglyphics presentation
Tools/resources required
• Paper
• Pens/pencils
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.
Energy use of everyday appliances
Understand the relationship between energy transferred, power and time
This is one of a series of resources to support the use of the BBC micro:bit in Design and Technology lessons.
Reducing energy usage in the home saves money, increases energy security and reduces the need to burn unsustainable fossil fuels. The first step in doing this is monitoring how much energy is used each day.
In this unit of learning, learners will use the BBC micro:bit to develop a prototype for a home energy usage monitoring system that will inform people how long they leave their lights and/or heating on during the day.
Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links
In this activity, learners will calculate the amount of electrical energy used by one or more of their appliances in the home.
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 free 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.
And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation
Design a home security system
Use the BBC micro:bit programmable system to create a working prototype
This is one of a series of resources to support the use of the BBC micro:bit in Design and Technology lessons.
Home security is increasingly important as homeowners look to ensure that their properties and possessions are protected from potential burglary. Alarm systems are being developed with increasingly complex embedded electronics and programmable components.
In this unit of learning, learners will research, program and develop a working door access and alarm system using the BBC micro:bit.
Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links
In this activity, learners will program a working door access and alarm system using the BBC micro:bit.
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
Build a robot arm with cardboard
Design and produce a 2D card model of the physical elements of a robot arm as an example.
This curriculum-linked activity teaches the foundation of a wide variety of real-world industrial applications, ranging from loading machines to assembling cars, welding parts together and spray-painting products. Robot arms are also used in applications such as bomb disposal and repairing spacecraft as they orbit the earth.
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
Tools/resources required
For each participating team:
1 A4 cardboard or MDF baseboard
2 A4 pieces of thick card
1 pair of scissors/craft knife
5 brass fasteners/brads/split pins
5 thumb tacks
3 paper clips
2 m length of string or fishing line
2 rubber bands
2 m length of sticky tape or masking tape
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.
Use the Speed Equation to Calculate Journey Times
Calculate journey times from one country to another
A costly and sometimes very long aeroplane journey is currently the only option if you intend to travel a long distance. However, what about in the future? One method that has been proposed is the vacuum tube train. The vacuum tube train may be able to reach speeds of 4,000 mph, but is it a realistic option?
Activity: Use the Speed Equation to Calculate Journey Times
In this fun maths activity for KS3, students will use the speed equation to calculate how long it takes to travel to destinations around the globe from the UK via today’s global transport options. They will then be introduced to a new concept in global travel: the vacuum tube train.
Students will work in pairs or small groups to complete the tasks on the handouts below. Handout Journey Times A is for higher-ability students, and Journey Times B is for the less able. Students completing the handout Journey Times A may have to be informed/reminded of the speed = distance/time equation and how to use it to calculate the journey times.
This activity can be used to introduce ideas about the environmental, economic, ethical and social impacts of each type of global transport. For example, comparing fuel efficiencies, the impact of infrastructure on the environment and how polluting they are.
Suggested learning outcomes
By the end of this activity, students will be able to calculate time using the speed equation, and they will be able to identify issues surrounding global transport.
The engineering context
Engineering has constantly propelled human progress, and the vacuum tube train is a testament to this innovation. This cutting-edge transportation marvel utilises sealed tubes to create a low-pressure environment, drastically reducing air resistance. Maglev technology suspends the train, eradicating friction for unparalleled speed.
The engineering behind the vacuum tube train merges aerodynamics, materials science, and electromagnetic systems, enabling mind-boggling velocities. As we strive for more sustainable and efficient transit solutions, this exemplifies the potential of engineering to reshape our world, revolutionising travel and underscoring the limitless possibilities when science and ingenuity converge.
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
Robot swarms
Write a set of rules for governing the behaviour of a robot swarm used in search and rescue operations
The use of different types of signals is hugely important in all areas of healthcare. Signal processing engineers are involved in everything from extracting information from the body’s own electrical and chemical signals to using wireless signals to allow search-and-rescue robot swarms to communicate with each other.
Together with related activities, this resource allows students to investigate the wide range of sophisticated imaging technology available in modern hospitals, and to explore the latest ideas in search-and-rescue robotics.
Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links
This activity gets students to work in small teams to create a set of simple rules which can be used to control a robot swarm designed to help in search-and-rescue-type scenarios such as earthquakes. The ‘Robot Swarms’ student brief sets the scene.
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.
Materials and design
Design a sporting outfit that is fit for purpose
This unit focuses upon how materials have been specifically engineered in order to provide the requisite qualities and characteristics. It builds on the ‘science behind the material’ scheme of work, developing the students’ understanding of particle states and motion in relation to materials used in engineering/product design. It allows the students to explore a range of engineered and smart materials, identifying why they are ‘fit for purpose’ and how they have been engineered to achieve this purpose.
Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links
An engaging activity where students will design an outfit that could be worn whilst participating in a sport. With a strong emphasis on developing creative thinking when generating ideas, this activity requires students to be creative when applying knowledge and understanding in science to a design and technology context.
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.
And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation
How technology affects us classroom debate
Argue for and against different technological products
The ‘Who’s the winner’ scheme of work provides students with an opportunity to collect data which they can use as evidence to debate whether people should be encouraged to engage in computer-based sport activities. This activity provides a context for the scheme, by focusing on the wider issues relating to society and health. It helps set the scene for the ‘question of sport’ unit of activities by providing a ‘big picture’ in relation to the connection between society and health and the development of new technologies.
Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links
An engaging activity which allows students to explore social, ethical, economic and health issues relating to the Nintendo Wii and present their findings in a persuasive, coherent and focussed argument.
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 free 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.
And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation
Testing water filtration systems
Design an experiment to test advertisement claims on water filtration equipment
Water is crucial to human life, but it can also be a killer.
Water contaminated with micro-organisms or chemicals, which is then used for drinking or cooking, 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.
Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links
This activity gets students to design an experiment or experiments which will test the claims of companies producing various types of domestic water filtration equipment. It can take 60 - 90 minutes to complete depending on the number of adverts chosen from the ‘Product advertisements’ student handout, and if the related short film is shown as an introduction to the session. You can stream and download this film for free by clicking on the link in the related resources section below.
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
How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
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. 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
Marshmallow catapults
**In this fun activity for kids, students will construct a miniature catapult capable of firing a marshmallow! **
This exercise will allow students to develop practical skills using a saw and a glue gun and their communication skills as they work as part of a team.
This activity could be used in Key Stage 2 as a straightforward design and technology project. It could also be integrated with history and drama.
This activity will take approximately 100-180 minutes to complete.
Tools/resources required
For the marshmallow holders:
Copies of the marshmallow catapults holder (handout) printed on card
Scissors
Glue sticks
For the catapult structures:
Square section softwood: 8 x 8 x 590 mm, 6 pieces per team plus spares
Saws
Vices, bench hooks, mitre boxes or similar devices to secure the wood when cutting
Glue guns (one per team)
2 elastic bands per team (one small, one large) plus spares
For testing:
A bag of marshmallows
Optional:
Copies of the marshmallow catapults structures (handout) printed on paper
Sandpaper
Baseboards or A3/A4 pieces of cardboard for use as baseboards when using glue guns
The engineering context
Did you know that the word ‘engineer’ was initially used to describe people responsible for building siege weapons in ancient times? During the sieges of towns and castles, it was customary for skilled experts to construct catapults to breach defences and demoralise the defenders. Among the various catapult types, one was known as the ‘onager’, named after a wild donkey renowned for its fierce kick. The individuals responsible for building this particular catapult were referred to as ‘onager-neers’, a term that eventually evolved into engineers.
Catapults need to have a structure which is both strong and stiff. Otherwise, the forces they experience when used can cause them to break. A catapult made from square shapes can be made significantly more rigid and less likely to collapse by adding reinforcement to form triangles. The principle is still widely used in civil engineering for structures ranging from cranes to aircraft structures and the roofs of buildings.
Suggested learning outcomes
By the end of this activity, students will be able to understand that triangles can be used to reinforce structures, they will be able to safely operate a saw to cut wood, safely use a glue gun, and they will be able to design and make a structure.
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 each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Please share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation
Materials and their properties poster
Primary classroom poster taking a closer look at the materials used to make each part of a tent and how these ensure the tent can function effectively.
Download single poster here or order the full set of posters for free from the IET Education website.
Nanotechnology poster
Secondary classroom poster exploring nanotechnology in everyday life.
Download the single poster or order a full set of posters for free from the IET Education website.
Electronics innovations timeline poster
Secondary classroom poster showing electronics innovations through the ages.
Download the single poster or order a full set of posters for free from the IET Education website.
Heating effect of infra-red
In this activity students will consider the heating effects of infrared energy, and how this is used in a range of products. They will then develop an experiment to measure the heat output from different devices.
It’s one of a set of resources developed to aid the teaching of the secondary national curriculum, particularly KS3, supporting the teaching in science (specifically physics) and design & technology (D&T).
Activity: Considering the heating effects of infrared energy and how this is used in a range of products
At the start of the activity students will brainstorm different ways energy appears in the home and what colour they associate with heat. In pairs, students will then discuss the ultimate fate of most energy (becoming heat) and why devices like TVs and computers get warm.
They’ll view our Cooking Devices presentation to identify the energy used to heat food. They’ll also examine appliances that produce infrared heat before designing an experiment to measure how much heat different devices produce.
Results must be recorded using our Results Table worksheet so that they can be analysed in terms of which devices heat most effectively. Students will then be asked a series of questions which reflect on how infrared energy is connected to the temperature changes.
Download our activity overview for a detailed lesson plan on infrared energy.
The engineering context
Understanding the principles of infrared heat can lead engineers to create and improve devices that warm objects directly, unlike convection heating which heats the air around an object.
Suggested learning outcomes
At the end of this lesson students will know how light and infrared travels as a wave. They’ll also understand the electromagnetic spectrum and its applications., as well as convection and the link between frequency and wavelength.
Download our activity sheet and related teaching resources
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.
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.
Download our classroom lesson plan and presentation below.
Please do share your highlights with us @IETeducation
Fitness and gaming
Testing fitness to decide whether people should engage in computer-based sport
With such a wide variety of fitness-based computer games available, this engineering activity for kids encourages children to collect data to find out if video games for fitness have the desired effect on fitness levels.
Do technology games really enhance fitness? Can you increase your fitness levels by being in front of a gaming computer? Use this activity to help answer these questions while at the same time questioning the validity of data and the difficulties of carrying out a fair test.
This lesson involves a series of discussions and ranking activities to develop students understanding of the link between fitness, pulse rate, respiration, and activity.
This activity was designed as a science activity but would be an excellent opportunity to be taught in conjunction with PE and mathematics.
Students will divide themselves into groups of 4 to 6 and have a discussion to establish what the group understands by the meaning of the word ‘fitness’ and clarify a group definition.
Students should consider the following questions: what do we mean by someone’s level of fitness? What is a pulse rate? What is respiration and where does it happen? Why do we need our heart and blood? What is energy and how does it relate to activity?
What you will need
Projector
Whiteboard
The engineering context
The ‘Who’s the winner’ scheme of work provides students with an opportunity to collect data which they can use as evidence to debate whether people should be encouraged to engage in computer-based sports activities. The investigation highlights how difficult it is to control all variables and therefore carry out a fair test. The students’ evaluation of the investigation will allow them the chance to question the validity of the data, question the size of the data set used and question the time span data needs to be collected over before it can be used to confirm a claim.
Suggested learning outcomes
By the end of this engaging activity students will be able to explain what is meant by fitness, pulse rate and respiration and how they are affected by activity. They will also be able to explain how fitness relates to level of activity.
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.
You can stream and download the related films for free by clicking on the appropriate link in the related resources section below.
Please share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation
Design a football robot referee
Designing a robot that can perform the duties of an assistant referee during a football game
In this activity learners will make use of the theme of football on the moon to design a robot that can perform the duties of an assistant referee during a game in the ‘Lunar League’. They will consider the challenges associated with playing football on the moon and the duties of an assistant referee. They will then produce a labelled sketch of their idea to meet a set of design criteria.
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 and Engineering. This resource focusses on learners designing a robot to act as an assistant referee during a game of football on the moon.
The teacher will introduce the theme of playing football on the moon and the challenges that would be faced when doing this, before explaining the task to learners and introducing the design brief. Learners will then have time to sketch their design ideas and report back to the class on their successes and failures and what they would do differently if they were to repeat the task.
As an extension learners can design a logo for the Lunar League that could be shown on the side of the robot assistant referee; produce a model and prototype of the design idea, using electronics to make it functional; and/or design a robot referee for the games of football to be played on the moon.
This activity is designed to take between 50-80 minutes.
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?
Engineers have a moral and ethical responsibility to ensure that their work is sustainable and that they do not negatively impact the environment. This includes the use of sustainable energy sources to power products.
Suggested learning outcomes
By the end of this free resource students will be able to understand the challenges associated with playing football on the moon; understand the roles and responsibilities of an assistant referee in a game of football; and be able to design a robot that can perform the duties of an assistant referee for a game of football on the moon.
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 a robot to draw lines on a pitch
Sketching an idea and writing a microcontroller program for the line painting robot to follow
This resource focusses on robotics engineering where learners design and write a program for a robot that could mark out the pitch lines for a game of football.
Students will produce a labelled sketch of their idea and write a microcontroller program for the electronic aspects of the robot.
This is one of a series of resources that are designed to allow learners to use the theme of sports to develop their knowledge and skills in Design & Technology and Engineering.
The teacher will introduce the theme of playing football on the moon and the challenges that would be faced when doing this, before explaining the robot design worksheet and task ahead to design and assemble their robot and then program it to complete the task assigned.
This activity is designed to take between 90-140 minutes.
Tools/resources required
Pens, pencils and coloured pencils
Crumble controller board and USB download cable
Three red crocodile clips and three black crocodile clips
Three AA batteries and battery pack
Two Crumble motors
Crumble software and computer hardware for programming
The engineering context
Electrical, electronic and control engineers need to have knowledge, understanding and skills associated with circuit design and assembly, and the programming of electronic control systems.
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?
Suggested learning outcomes
By the end of this free resource students will be able to understand the challenges of living and playing football on the moon; be able to produce a labelled sketch of a design for a moon based pitch marker robot and be able to write a program for the electronics of the orbit, so it can mark out the pitch.
All activity sheets and supporting resources to design a robot are free online 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 a jetpack
Consider how a jetpack works and sketch an idea for a wearable jetpack
In this activity learners will make use of the theme of football on the moon to design a jetpack that can be worn by either the players or referee during a moon football game. They will look at jetpack design and the different parts of a jetpack. They will then sketch an idea for a wearable jetpack for use during the game.
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 Science, Design & Technology and Engineering. This resource focusses on learners looking at jetpack aviation to design a jetpack that the players or referee can use during a game of football on the moon.
The teacher will introduce the theme of playing football on the moon and the challenges that would be faced when doing this, before introducing and explaining how a jetpack works. Learners will then have time to go through the design brief and sketch their design ideas before reporting back to the class in an informal style or as part of a formal presentation.
This activity can be simplified (particularly for less able students) by providing sentence starters for annotations/labelling of sketches and/or providing templates for learners to draw around, such as images of the referee and players.
As an extension learners can make a life size model of the jetpack or design a spacesuit to be work by the players and/or referee.
This activity is designed to take between 50-80 minutes.
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?
Suggested learning outcomes
By the end of this free resource students will be able to design a wearable jetpack for a game of football on the Moon; know the different parts of a jetpack; and understand how jetpacks function and the technology needed to make them work.
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.