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Design, engineering and technology
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Modifying the security system
Improve and develop your programmable system
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 improve and further develop their programmable 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
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Social effects of health management
How could programmable systems be used to allow people to monitor their own health?
This is one of a series of resources to support the use of the BBC micro:bit in design and technology lessons.
There are many reasons to monitor heart rate. For example:
There are 2.7 million people in the UK currently suffering from heart problems. The quicker these problems can be found and treated the better the chance of a full recovery.
Athletes measure their heart rate during training to ensure that they are training in their optimum physical range.
In this unit, learners will use the BBC micro:bit to develop a prototype for a personal heart monitoring system.
Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links
In this activity, learners will discuss the social effects of good and bad personal health management and the potential benefits that programmable systems can bring to this.
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
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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
![IETEducation](https://d2w4qhtqw2dbsq.cloudfront.net/profile_live/3108890/small.jpg)
Design a personal heart monitoring system
Programme the system using the accelerometer and LED display
This is one of a series of resources to support the use of the BBC micro:bit in Design and Technology lessons.
There are many reasons to monitor heart rate. For example:
There are 2.7 million people in the UK currently suffering from heart problems. The quicker these problems can be found and treated the better the chance of a full recovery.
Athletes measure their heart rate during training to ensure that they are training in their optimum physical range.
In this unit, learners will use the BBC micro:bit to develop a prototype for a personal heart monitoring system.
Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links
In this activity, learners will develop their programmable system using the BBC micro:bit’s inbuilt accelerometer to detect motion created by the pumping of the heart.
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
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Wearable technology
Integrate a heart monitor into an item of clothing
This is one of a series of resources to support the use of the BBC micro:bit in Design and Technology lessons.
There are many reasons to monitor heart rate. For example:
There are 2.7 million people in the UK currently suffering from heart problems. The quicker these problems can be found and treated the better the chance of a full recovery.
Athletes measure their heart rate during training to ensure that they are training in their optimum physical range.
In this unit, learners will use the BBC micro:bit to develop a prototype for a personal heart monitoring system.
Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links
In this activity, learners will design a fully integrated product. They will investigate and apply methods of attaching their device to a piece of clothing.
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
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Which medical imaging technique? - Practical
Investigate aspects of biomedical signal processing
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.
Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links
In this practical session students investigate aspects of signal processing. Working in teams, students convert an analogue brain signal into a digital format and transmit it across the classroom to another team using flashes from the LED on the Digital Communicator that they will need to build. The other team will record the digital format and rebuild the original waveform from that information.
This activity can be used as a hands-on extension to the ‘Which Imaging Technique?’ activity (see Related activities 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
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Materials for a robotic arm
Investigate the properties of smart springs and see how they might be used as muscles in a robotic arm
This fun engineering activity encourages students to investigate prosthetic materials and the properties of smart springs and see how they could be used as muscles in a robotic arm.
This is a free resource aimed at secondary school students. This activity encourages 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.
This exercise should take around an hour to complete.
Resources required for class:
Several desk fans should be available but kept out of sight of the students until needed.
Resources required per team:
Wooden ‘arm’ as shown in the diagram on the handout below. These will need to be constructed in advance of the lesson. This could be done either by the science technician or by the students themselves as part of a joint project with design and technology.
1 to 1.5 mm diameter copper or other fairly flexible metal wire. Must be stripped of insulation
A smart spring made from a shape memory alloy such as nitinol
Power supply, leads, crocodile clips
Retort stand
Ammeter
Voltmeter
Sets of slot masses of various sizes
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.
Suggested learning outcomes
By the end of this activity learners will be able to explain why a material is chosen for a use based on its properties, they will be able to describe how smart materials are used in a real life context and they will be able to use and manipulate material-related data.
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
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Renewable energy debate
Structured class debate on the location of a new wind farm
There is much debate about the issues created by carbon emissions and how renewable energy sources can help resolve these challenges. Most people agree that renewable energy is a good thing, but many oppose to having wind turbines built near their neighbourhood.
In this role-play activity, participants take on different roles to debate a proposed wind farm. In pairs, students discuss whether their character would be in favour of the proposed wind farm and prepare a two-minute talk to share their case with the group.
Afterwards, divide the larger groups into ‘for’ and ‘against’ and bring together all the individual statements to form a strong, coherent case. Four people are chosen to give two reasons to support their argument.
Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links
This activity has been written with a strong science bias. However, it can easily be taught in design and technology with either a systems and control approach or from a ‘sustainability’ angle, looking at the topic of wind farms and the future of energy production. The ‘sustainability’ perspective will provide an activity that could involve design and technology, geography and citizenship.
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
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.
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Which medical imaging technique?
Select a method of medical imaging most appropriate for a particular medical condition
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 select a method of medical imaging which is appropriate to a particular medical condition. Students are provided with the medical records of eight patients. The different imaging techniques covered in this activity include: CAT, Gamma cameras, MRI, PET, Thermology, Ultrasound and X-rays.
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
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Materials for a prosthetic foot
Analyse data to find the best material for a prosthetic foot
The development of new materials is having a huge impact on all of our lives. This engineering activity for kids encourages students to look at a variety of materials and find out which would be the best for ankle and foot prosthetics. Different materials will perform in a variety of different ways, and it is through the analysis of the materials that students will be able to work out which would be the best for a prosthetic foot.
This fun STEM activity is designed as a main lesson exercise for secondary school students. Learners will carry out some data manipulation to find the best material from which to make a prosthetic foot. The activity offers strong opportunities for cross-curricular work with Mathematics.
The class will be split into teams. Students will work as teams of engineering materials consultants and have to find the best material from which to make a prosthetic foot.
Using the related handouts, which can be found below, students will plot graphs of stress against strain for seven different materials and calculate the gradient in order to find the stiffness for each material.
Based on this information, students should select which of the seven materials is the most suitable for the construction of the foot.
Students will present their recommendations to the rest of the class and the other teams will comment on their recommendations.
What you will need:
Graph paper
Pen/pencil
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 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.
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.
By the end of this activity students will be able to make the link between material properties and material usage. They will be able to understand how smart materials are used in a real life context and they will be able to use and manipulate material-related data.
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Design a model vacuum tube train
Learn about train design and improve engineering skills with this fun STEM activity!
In this activity students will design a model high-speed vacuum tube train. Students will have to decide on how to get a ball to travel through a tube as quickly as possible without the help of gravity. They will then look at the forces that would act on a real vacuum tube train.
Students should be supplied with a variety of marbles and ball bearings in various sizes. They should be allowed to choose which sizes they want (this will depend on the method they choose). Options may include using a magnet to pull the ball, using force from a metal rod or air from a pump to push it. Learners can’t rely on gravity – the tubing needs to be placed on a level desk or floor.
Groups are asked to record the speed and then modify their design to make it faster. They will need to use stop clocks to measure time and then calculate speed. If you have data-loggers to measure speed these can be used instead. Students should understand the need for repeating their measurements and they should record them in a table.
Groups can modify the ball if they wish. They might want to make it more aerodynamic by using paper or by using a lubricant.
As an optional extension, students could modify their design so it has a safe stopping mechanism. Alternatively, students could write an explanation as to why air resistance is not a problem in a vacuum tube train and why this is an advantage.
How long will this activity take?
This activity will take approximately 50 minutes to complete.
What is a vacuum tube train?
A vacuum tube train, also known as a vactrain, is a proposed design for train transportation. The train would use maglev technology to run in partly evacuated tubes or tunnels. Reduced air resistance could allow vacuum tube trains to travel at very high speeds – up to 4,000 mph!
Suggested learning outcomes
By the end of this activity students will be able to design a model vacuum tube train and they will be able to use a force diagram to show the forces interacting on a real vacuum tube train.
Download the activity sheet for free!
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
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3D modelling
In this design activity, students will produce a 3D model of a robot arm.
It’s part of a series of activities that sees students designing and modelling the physical elements of a robot arm. This 3D modelling activity assumes that students have previously made a 2D model of a robot arm in the Build a robot arm activity (if they haven’t, they may benefit from trying the 2D modelling activity first!).
This is one of a set of resources developed to aid the teaching of the secondary national curriculum, particularly KS3. It has been designed to support the delivery of key topics within design and technology (DT) and science.
Activity: Designing and modelling a 3D robot arm
In this hands-on activity, students will be divided into small teams and tasked with taking inspiration from their previously completed 2D models of a robot arm to construct a 3D model. This arm will then have to lift three identical objects between a “start” and “end” location.
The arms will be judged on how accurately the items are transferred, the lack of damage to the items being moved, and the time needed to complete the moves. Students will need consider factors such as grip, hand operation, item protection, and structural rigidity (i.e., how do they stop the arm from bending?).
Teams will have the opportunity to test, improve, and refine their designs based on constructive feedback provided by the class.
The engineering context
Understanding how to design and build a robotic arm will introduce your students to key concepts in mechanical engineering and automation technology. Robot arms are used in a wide variety of industrial applications, ranging from loading machines to assembling cars, welding parts together and spray-painting products. They are also used in delicate applications such as bomb disposal and repairing space craft while in orbit.
Suggested learning outcomes
By the end of the lesson students will be able to design and build a 3D model. They will also have developed their creative and problem-solving skills, teamwork abilities and a practical understanding of the workings of robot arms.
Download our activity sheet for free!
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.
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What are the pros and cons of using public transport?
Analyse current transport options and compile a list of criteria that future methods of transport should fulfil
In the UK around 75% of people use their car for their daily commute. However, with congestion and pollution from increased traffic, why aren’t more people using community transport?
This is one of a set of free STEM resources for KS3. Can your students think about current methods of community transport and consider the advantages and disadvantages of each?
Activity:
In this activity, students are asked to think about current methods of community transport and the associated pros and cons. Their ideas will then be used to compile a class list of criteria that future methods of community transport should fulfil.
Slide 2 of the presentation below shows an image of traffic congestion. Learners should discuss what the image conveys and how they feel about this. Take time to discuss why many people choose to drive rather than use community transport.
One possible solution to reduce the amount of traffic on the road is for more people to use community transport. What do students think about this solution?
Slide 3 of the presentation shows a range of current community transport methods. Students will work in pairs or small groups to discuss the pros and cons of each method.
You may like to go through one type of transport as a class and then ask the students to go through the remaining individually or in groups.
This feedback can be used to compile a class list of criteria that community transport needs to fulfil in the future e.g. sustainable (materials used to make the transport, the infrastructure needed as well as the fuel used), low pollution, use of renewables, low energy consumption (high energy efficiency), cheap, fast, good networks and frequent service.
This is a quick and simple activity that will take approximately 25 minutes to complete.
Suggested learning outcomes
By the end of this activity students will be able to identify the pros and cons of different types of community transport and they will be able to compile a list of criteria for future community transport.
Download the activity sheets for free!
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
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What is the future of community transport?
Research a form of transport that fulfils the needs of a community
Try out this engaging STEM activity to learn all about the future of technology in the automotive industry! This exercise is suitable for KS3 and encourages the development of students’ research, communication and teamwork skills.
Activity: What is the future of community transport?
In this activity students will work in teams to research an existing or possible future form of community transport. They will mark their system against the agreed criteria from the starter and present their findings to the rest of the class.
Students will be split into ten groups, so the full range of systems are researched. Allocate each team a different concept for community transport from the handout Tomorrow’s Choices. This handout contains ten existing and futuristic community transport systems. Each sheet contains a hyperlinked URL for further information and a table for them to mark the system against criteria. Students should write into the table the agreed criteria from the starter activity.
Teams will then present their findings and provide a quick explanation as to how their transport works.
As an optional extension, students could use the internet to research extra information on their transport systems. They could then use this information to produce a detailed presentation on how the transport system works. This could be a poster or a computer presentation.
Teams will need access to the internet to complete this activity. If possible, put the handout on the shared system so teams can access them through their computer. This allows them to use the hyperlink to the website for research. They can type their answers into the grid directly or print out the sheet and write on them.
This activity will take approximately 50 minutes to complete.
Tools/resources required
Computers with internet access
Suggested learning outcomes
By the end of this activity students will be able to use ICT to research an existing or possible future community transport and they will be able to use criteria to judge how well it fulfils social, environmental, and economic needs.
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
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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.
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Design an automatic lighting system
Use the BBC micro:bit programmable system to create a working prototype of a automatic lighting system
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
In this activity, learners will develop their programmable lighting 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
![IETEducation](https://d2w4qhtqw2dbsq.cloudfront.net/profile_live/3108890/small.jpg)
Ohm's law resistor calculation with the BBC micro:bit
In this activity students will learn about importance of and use Ohm’s law to calculate the value of a protective resistor for an LED. Using a BBC micro:bit, they will develop a prototype for an LED based automatic home lighting system, designed to save energy.
This prototype aims to promote energy efficiency, a concern that resonates with our daily life as it’s estimated that the average UK homeowner could save up to £240 a year alone on the cost of lighting their home.
This is one of a set of resources developed to aid the teaching of the secondary national curriculum, particularly KS3. This is part of our series of resources designed to support the use of the BBC micro:bit in secondary school design & technology (DT), computing and engineering lessons. It can also be used to support physics sciences lessons.
Activity: Developing a prototype for an LED based automatic home lighting system
In this sustainable lighting activity, students will be tasked with creating a smart lighting system that adjusts based on environmental conditions.
The engineering context
Engineers are often required to program devices to perform specific tasks, optimise system performance, or even create entirely new technologies. This involves understanding how to embed intelligence into products, which can range from simple household items like automatic lighting systems to more complex systems like autonomous vehicles or smart city infrastructure.
By learning programming skills and understanding how to integrate them into engineering projects, students will gain an insight into how different components can work together in a system.
Furthermore, resistors are essential components in electronic circuits, controlling the flow of electricity and protecting components from damage by limiting the current. Understanding Ohm’s law and resistor calculation will lay the groundwork for many aspects of electronics and electrical engineering.
Suggested learning outcomes
By the end of this activity, students should be able to understand and apply Ohm’s Law, particularly in calculating the value of a protective resistor for an LED. The skills they acquire will extend beyond the classroom, equipping them with practical knowledge that can be applied in real-world situations. This activity will also set a solid foundation for more complex electronic theory lessons or when delving deeper into the relationship between voltage, current, and resistance.
Download our activity sheets for free!
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.
Please do share your highlights with us @IETeducation
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Design an alarm for your schoolbag
**Use the BBC micro:bit programmable system to create a working prototype of a motion detector alarm. **
This is one of a series of resources to support the use of the BBC micro:bit in Design and Technology lessons.
Schools are busy environments and it is easy for learner’s bags to be left unattended, taken by mistake or even stolen. Alarm systems using embedded electronics and programmable components can be developed to protect the property of learners during the school day.
In this unit of learning, learners will research, program and develop a working school bag alarm system using the BBC micro:bit.
Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links
In this activity, learners will develop their programmable system using the BBC micro:bit and the device’s inbuilt accelerometer to detect movement.
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
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What am I? Inputs and outputs
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
![IETEducation](https://d2w4qhtqw2dbsq.cloudfront.net/profile_live/3108890/small.jpg)
How does a Sat Nav system work?
Learn about the technology behind satellite navigation systems and discuss the pros and cons of using them
Can your students consider how a GPS system functions and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using them?
This activity is suitable for KS3 and KS4 and encourages students to undertake research and produce a visual display.
This activity is an engaging investigation into the uses of communication technology in the modern world.
This activity is an individual activity and could be run in an ICT suite to allow students to use the internet for research.
Distribute the Sat Nav handout to students. This handout gives some outline information about satellites and an un-annotated diagram. Students can cut out or copy the un-annotated diagram and add information to this to produce a visual display of how a Sat Nav system works.
There are a series of questions on the Sat Nav handout. Questions 1-4 are designed to get students to undertake research on the topic of satellites and their functionalities and capabilities.
This is a simple activity that will take approximately 30 minutes to complete.
How does a Sat Nav system work?
What we often refer to as ‘Sat Nav’ is properly called the Global Positioning System (GPS). This uses satellites that continually transmit a signal. They are like an accurate orbiting clock. The signal from at least three and up to seven satellites is received and compared by the Sat Nav device. Using some complicated maths, the Sat Nav device can work out not only where it is on the Earth’s surface, but at what altitude it is as well. The position information is compared with a map downloaded and stored by the Sat Nav device. The satellites tell you where you are, and the mapping hardware fills in the pictures of the road around you.
The satellites need to have a clear path through the air to the Sat Nav device – this is normally called a clear line of ‘sight’.
The engineering context
Living in a highly technological world, where access to information and entertainment is at our fingertips, the Inform and Entertain Me topic is a gateway to engage and introduce students to the principles and technology that form the basis for communication devices that are used in our everyday lives.
Download the free How does a Sat Nav system work? 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.
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