Learn how to graphically represent a range of fitness levels This engineering activity provides students with the opportunity to collect and present data and think about different presentation techniques. The data collected will be used as evidence to debate whether people should be encouraged to engage in computer-based sports activities. Do computer “anytime fitness” games really have the same benefits as more traditional fitness activities? Through this activity, students will be able to use their data to start answering this question. This free resource is aimed at secondary school students. It was designed as a mathematics activity and should be preceded by the ‘Wii Fitness?’ activity. Activity introduction In this engaging STEM task students will use the data gathered during an investigation to contextualise frequency curves. The ‘Can using a Games Console Make You Fitter?’ worksheet used in the corresponding ‘Wii Fitness?’ activity generates cumulative data on pulse rates and levels of fitness. Actual collection of data could easily be carried out a Mathematics teacher – no specialist equipment is required. These can be prepared in advance based on datasets prepared by the teacher or teachers could use data from different classes, year groups or gender groups to allow a comparison. Working in groups of 4-6, students should be given this data. Each team should decide how to group this data and then draw a cumulative frequency graph. From this, they should identify the median and quartiles and use this information to draw a box plot. This activity will take approximately 30 minutes. 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 sport 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 activity learners will be able to plot cumulative frequency diagrams. 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

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.

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.

In this activity students will learn about hypotheses by looking at heart rate data and how the use of computer games affects fitness. This lesson follows our Wii Fitness activity, which provides students with an opportunity to collect fitness data which they can use as evidence to debate whether people should be encouraged to engage in computer-based sport activities. This is one of a set of resources developed to aid the class teaching of the secondary national curriculum, particularly KS3. It has been designed to support the delivery of key topics within mathematics and science. Activity: Making hypotheses on how the use of computer games affects fitness In this activity students will review their results from our Wii Fitness investigation to form a hypothesis on how different activities affect heart rates. Students must consider the validity and size of the data set collected and work through a series of questions to explore if the data is sufficient to confirm their initial hypotheses. Download our activity overview for a starter lesson plan on hypotheses for free! The engineering context Engineering often involves problem-solving, and hypothesis based on initial observations can help engineers quickly define the potential cause of a problem. Hypothesis helps engineers to interpret data and can even guide them towards designing tests to make sure that the correct data is being gathered. This systematic approach can help to quickly validate or refute hypothesis, allowing engineers to find the right solution for the problem at hand. Suggested learning outcomes Students will be introduced to hypotheses and know how to create one from using a data set. They’ll also be able to evaluate the suitability and validity of the data collected as well as explain how results and ideas can be changed when we consider other variables. Download our activity sheet and other 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 (including the video), and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your class’s and your schools’ needs. You can download our classroom lesson plan below. Please do share your highlights with us @IETeducation.

Following this lesson plan, students will be able to identify the bedrock on which their town is built using a geological survey map. They’ll also investigate the properties of different types of rocks and interpret data on rock hardness and drilling capabilities. The activity also encourages leaners to consider the implications of large-scale tunnelling and boring work on the bedrock of their town. It’s not just about understanding the science behind it, but also about appreciating its impact on their everyday lives. 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 science and design and technology (DT). It can also be used to support geography lesson teaching. Activity: Looking at the link between sewage and the underground tunnel system In this activity, your students will play the roles of investigators for a local water company. They’ll be asked to examine the feasibility of digging a tunnel underneath their town to alleviate strain on the current sewage system. The engineering context In civil engineering, knowledge of geology is essential when designing and constructing infrastructure such as buildings, bridges, tunnels, and roads. The type of soil and bedrock, the presence of groundwater, the risk of earthquakes or landslides - all these factors can greatly influence the feasibility, design, safety, and cost of construction projects. By investigating the feasibility of constructing a sewage tunnel, students will gain insights into the practical applications of their geography, science and math lessons. They’ll see first hand how engineers use their knowledge of rocks and their properties to make decisions that impact entire communities. Suggested learning outcomes The goal of this lesson plan is not only to teach your students about the properties of rocks but also to inspire them to think critically about how these properties affect our world. By the end of this activity, they’ll have a deeper understanding of their town’s geological makeup and the implications of drilling through the bedrock. They’ll also be able to interpret data on rock hardness and drilling capabilities, which are crucial skills in many STEM fields. 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 (including the film), and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. You can download our classroom lesson plan. Please do share your highlights with us @IETeducation.

Investigate the potential effects of mobile phones on our health The ‘Time for a game’ scheme of work provides an electronics systems context for students to explore infrared technologies. Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links An engaging activity in which students will investigate the potential effects to health of the use of mobile phones and their transmitters, which use radio waves and microwaves to transmit information. 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

Investigate and understand the technology that is required for remote surgery A session focused on Internet research and presentation skills. Students work in teams to investigate the technology that is required for remote surgery and discuss the advantages, disadvantages and ethical issues of such procedures. Students are given the example of a patient who, after suffering a series of heart attacks is about to undergo heart surgery in a hospital where a new pacemaker will be inserted using remote surgery. They are responsible for reassuring the patient ‘Luigi’ about the procedure and the aftercare. Download the free activity sheet! And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

Explore the risks associated with exposure to microwaves 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. Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links This engaging activity allows students to explore the hazards and risks associated with exposure to microwaves. A microwave monitor is used to measure the microwave radiation from a microwave oven and a working mobile phone at a range of distances. 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

Investigate the salinity of different water samples 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. Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links In this practical activity students investigate the salinity of three different water samples using a multimeter. Students first calibrate their salination probe and test the salinity of their solutions. Students can be asked to suggest how errors might have appeared in their results and what could be done to minimise or eliminate them. This activity can be used as an extension to the ‘Filtering water’ activity. 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

Learn about sound waves in this free STEM with this free lesson plan for KS3 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. This engaging STEM activity is aimed at KS3 students and deals with how animals use sounds and how sounds change in natural phenomena. This is so that a student can understand how sound waves travel. The teacher will first distribute a copy of the ‘Animal Sounds’ handout, which can be downloaded below, to each student. Make sure students understand sound is a longitudinal wave of compressions and rarefactions of the material. Soundwaves follow the laws of wave behaviour, so they are a useful introduction to wave properties. This activity can be simplified (particularly for less able students) by creating a discussion on why different animals have different hearing ranges and their experience of phenomena such as the Doppler effect. Use the handout to discuss different sounds and what they might have learned in other lessons (e.g. music) about pitch, frequency, amplitude etc. As an extension students could produce a display from low to high frequency, showing where the sound ranges used by different animals lie. Students could consider how sounds outside the normal spectrum could be used to develop new products. For example, to make ‘silent’ devices to broadcast sound or data between two points. This is a quick and simple activity that will take approximately 15 minutes. Tools/resources required Calculators The engineering context Sounds are vibrations travelling through materials. Many animals make sounds, either for communication or for location. Sound travels at different speeds in different materials. Generally, the denser the material, the faster the sound will travel. Sound is a longitudinal wave of compressions and rarefactions of the material (a rarefaction involves particles in the material being more spread out than usual). Sound waves follow the laws of wave behaviour, so they are a useful introduction to wave properties. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this free resource students will know that sound is produced by objects vibrating and they will understand that sound is a longitudinal wave. They will also know about the range of frequencies that can be heard by humans and other animals and they will understand that sound travels at different speeds in different mediums. 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

Consider ethical and moral issues around new technology This engaging activity allows students to consider the social, ethical and moral issues associated with the development of new technology. The activity offers strong opportunities for cross-curricular work with PSHE, PSE, PSD. 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 science and design and technology (DT). Activity: Consider ethical and moral issues around new technology Students will be divided into groups and given a scenario: the creation of the world’s first entirely autonomous robot surgeon. Some groups, representing the engineers, scientists, and doctors who designed the robot, will argue for the continuation of the project. Other groups, representing patients’ groups and doctors’ unions, will argue against further development due to perceived risks. Using a newspaper article and worksheet as guides, students will formulate robust arguments for their assigned viewpoints. They’ll then pair up and debate the issue, striving to reach a mutually agreed way forward. The engineering context This activity demonstrates how engineers must grapple with not only the technical challenges of designing new technology but also its societal implications. It highlights the importance of considering varying viewpoints and ethical concerns when developing new technologies. Suggested learning outcomes Through this activity, students will gain a deep understanding of what remote surgery entails and the social, ethical, and moral implications of such technological advances. They’ll also learn to appreciate that different groups may have varying perspectives on scientific and technological progress. By engaging in structured debates, students will enhance their analytical skills, learn to articulate their viewpoints persuasively, and develop the ability to negotiate and compromise. 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 (including film clips!), 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

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

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 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

Identify parts of the human body with a 2D paper model This activity is one of a set of resources developed to support teaching the KS1 primary national curriculum. They are designed to support the delivery of key topics within maths and science. This resource focuses on developing an understanding of the basic parts of the human body through assembling a 2D paper model. By creating a captivating 2D paper model, students will have the opportunity to unleash their artistic talents and delve into the fundamental components that make up our remarkable anatomy. What you will need Thin card for printing the human body template to handout Erasers (or sticky tack or foam rubber) Safety scissors Split pins Coloured crayons/pencils Glue sticks. The engineering context Biomedical engineers assist individuals in reclaiming their lives following significant injuries; they can fabricate new body parts, such as arms and legs. Moreover, bioengineers can potentially restore hearing to people who are deaf or hard of hearing using electronic solutions. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity, students will be able to identify basic parts of the human body, and they will be able to make a 2D paper model of the human body and name, draw and label the basic parts. Free to download! 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

Form a constructive argument in a debate Virtual reality versus real-world sports tasks participants to form a constructive argument in a debate based on the question: ‘which is more important to our society - the development of the Nintendo Wii or encouraging more people to take up sport?’ Students research and evaluate the social, ethical, economic and health issues relating to simulation sports versus real-world sports. Form arguments for and against this topic and present the findings in a persuasive, coherent and focused argument. Tools/resources required Projector/Whiteboard Access to the internet for the research activity, or copies of appropriate pre-printed resources 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. 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 do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

Designing a meal for the King that uses only organic ingredients King Charles III is a passionate environmentalist, who as the former Prince of Wales managed a successful organic farm on his Highgrove estate and has been a big campaigner for environmental issues, including the benefits of organic food, for a number of years. This is one of a series of resources that are designed to allow learners to use the theme of King Charles III’s coronation to develop their knowledge and skills in Design & Technology and Engineering. This resource focusses on designing a meal for the King that is produced using only organic ingredients. The teacher will first explain what is meant by organic ingredients and how they are different to genetically modified (GM) foods. The teacher should explain the design brief and criteria, explaining that the meal must be made from only organic ingredients, serve two people, be either a starter and a main or a main and a dessert, be colourful and use varied textures, and cost less than £5 per person (optional). The learners will then produce a sketch of their idea. This activity can be simplified (particularly for less able students) by providing a partially completed design idea and/or providing a list of organic ingredients that the learners could choose from. Use the handout for learners to sketch their ideas for their organic meal making sure to annotate their design to show how it meets the design criteria. As an extension students could prepare the meal in its entirety; cost the meal per portion for the organic ingredients compared to non-organic ingredients; design a starter or dessert to compliment the meal; or create a menu card to be put on the King’s table. The engineering context Engineers have a moral responsibility to ensure that their designs are sustainable, ethical and do not negatively impact on the environment. In the case of food scientists this involves considering their use of organic and genetically modified ingredients, and when each is or isn’t appropriate. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this free resource students will be able to understand the difference between organic and GM foods; understand the benefits and limitations of organic foods; and be able to design a meal for King Charles III made entirely from organic ingredients. 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.

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

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

Learn about the robots used to perform remote surgery and the important role of electromagnetism Telemedicine is a new and fast-developing field in healthcare. Even 20 years ago the idea of a surgeon being able to operate a robot from hundreds of miles away in order to perform an operation seemed like science fiction. Today, this is not only possible but engineers, working with scientists and doctors, are now designing robotic systems which will be able to operate on patients with no human intervention at all. This activity is a quick, engaging introduction to a lesson using telemedicine and robotics as a context to explore electromagnetism and the link between technology and real-life science. Download the activity sheets for free! And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation