In this activity learners will design, make and assemble a fold out pop-up structure that shows a self-contained, four room dwelling. This activity could be used as a main lesson activity to teach learners about the design of folding structures using graphic materials; alternatively, it could be used as an introduction to designing for a client, where the learners could be given a target group such as wheelchair users or a young family. This could also be used as one of several activities within a wider scheme of learning focussing on structures and Design for Living. Resources required: Scissors Paper or Card Glue Rulers Pens, coloured pencils or paint Paperclips Optional: three pre-made rooms Optional: a pre-made assembled example Download our activity sheet and other related resources 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 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. You can download our step-by-step instructions below as either a classroom lesson plan or PowerPoint presentation. Please do share your highlights with us @IETeducation.

A project to make and find out how far a paper plane can fly In this activity learners will make a paper plane to help them understand aerodynamics in action. They will also test it to see how far it will fly and the time it stays in the air. This activity could be used as a main lesson activity to teach learners about modelling and prototyping, or part of a wider scheme of learning covering manufacturing processes and techniques. It could also be used as part of an introduction to aerodynamics. Resources required: A4 printed paper aeroplane templates Stopwatches (to measure flight time during testing) Download the free activity sheet below! Download our activity sheet and other related resources 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 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. You can download our step-by-step instructions below as either a classroom lesson plan or PowerPoint presentation. Please do share your highlights with us @IETeducation.

Examine and analyse existing products This is one of a set of resources developed to support the delivery of key topics within science and design and technology (DT). This resource focusses on analysing existing products. This could be used as a one-off activity or as part of a wider unit of work focussing on the design process. Activity: How to carry out a product analysis In this activity students will learn about two techniques that are commonly used to analyse existing products – the 5 Ws and ACCESS FM. They will discuss the key terms in each of these techniques and use them to investigate familiar products. They will also complete an interactive quiz to test their knowledge. The 5 Ws Who: Who is the user of the product? What: What does the product do? What materials is it made from? Where: Where is the product used? Where was it made? When: When is the product used? Why: Why does the product exist? Why is it designed the way that it is? ACCESS FM A = Aesthetics – How does the product appeal to the five senses? C = Cost – How much does the product cost to make or to buy? C = Customer – Who will buy or use the product? E = Environment – How does the product affect the environment? Is it made from recycled materials? S = Size – What is the length, width and height of the product? S = Safety – Is the product safe to use? F = Function – How does the product work? What does it do? M = Material – What materials and components have been used to make the product? The engineering context Understanding product analysis is vital for budding engineers. It equips them with the ability to evaluate how well products and systems perform their intended functions. By understanding why products are designed the way they are, they can devise better engineering solutions in the future. Suggested learning outcomes Upon completing this activity, students should understand what is meant by ‘product analysis’. They will be able to use the 5 Ws to examine existing products and apply ACCESS FM for detailed analysis. By discussing key terms and investigating familiar products, they will develop a deeper understanding of how products work and how they can be improved. This knowledge will serve as a solid foundation for their own design processes in the future. 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. You can download our step-by-step instructions below as both a classroom lesson plan and a PowerPoint presentation. Please do share your highlights with us @IETeducation.

Explore the engineering careers that are available today, the potential rewards of these careers, how engineering has shaped our society and how engineering could transform the world we live in in the future. Depending upon the option selected, you can also investigate the influence of famous engineers/technologists of the past and people working in Engineering today. Part of the #IETLookAtMeNow campaign exploring the different ways that toys and imagination can represent a world of possibilities and invention to children. For engineers and scientists, the possibilities and invention never end. They are proof that our toys and dreams today impact our innovations tomorrow.

Secondary classroom poster looking at how women are involved in the engineering industry.

Secondary classroom poster where students can find out more about working drawings and how they are created. Download the single poster here or order a full set of posters for free from the IET Education website.

Secondary classroom poster where students can learn about the concept of potential difference through analogy. Download the single poster or order a full set of posters for free from the IET Education website.

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

Secondary classroom poster highlighting some of the areas in which the human body can be improved with technology. Download the single poster or order a full set of posters for free from the IET Education website.

Secondary classroom poster highlighting inputs, processes and outputs. Download the single poster or order a full set of posters for free from the IET Education website.

Secondary classroom poster highlighting ideas we could all implement to help save our world. Download the single poster or order a full set of posters for free from the IET Education website.

Secondary classroom poster looking at what programmable components are and where they are used. Download single poster or order a full set of posters for free from the IET Education website.

Secondary classroom poster calculating mechanical and electrical power. Order a free set of secondary posters from the IET Website.

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.

Secondary classroom poster where students can find out how designers use models to understand how their ideas will look and function. Download the single poster or order a full set of posters for free from the IET Education website.

Secondary classroom poster giving a quick look at the individual components of the BBC micro:bit and how you can use it in your classroom. Download the single poster or order a full set of posters for free from the IET Education website.

Secondary classroom poster where your students can find out about the equations and formulae needed for engineering. Download the single poster or order a full set of posters for free from the IET Education website.

Secondary classroom poster where your students can find out about the equations and formulae needed for D&T. Download the single poster or order the full set of posters for free from the IET Education website.

Secondary classroom poster exploring the green solutions for future travel. Download or order a full set of posters for free from the IET Education website.

Secondary classroom poster where your students can discover the excitement of robotics and STEM with FIRST LEGO League. Download the single poster or order a full set of posters for free from the IET Education website.