Explore maths with gingerbread men, and find out how many combinations of buttons are possibilities. This is a simple maths game for KS1 and KS2 mathematics, as a curriculum mapped activity to do at school or home. This activity in partnership with MEI is a ‘finding all possibilities’ type of problem. It encourages children to work systematically to ensure they know when all the solutions have been found, as well as ensuring they haven’t made any two gingerbread men look exactly the same. A strategy that will be promoted is the idea of fixing one of the variables, in this case one of the buttons, whilst changing the others in turn. To ensure they become confident talking about their maths, ask the children to work in pairs if possible in a classroom or at home. 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.

Get children thinking about combinations and KS2 times tables with this visual and hands-on activity for primary aged children. With a row of 24 cupcakes, what happens when every second cake has white icing and every third cake has a red smartie? Our lesson plan is mapped to the UK curricula and has all the notes to hand to guide you through the 45 minute resource as a classroom activity or at home. This activity in partnership with MEI could be used in Key Stage 2 as a stand-alone activity, as a focused task to develop problem solving skills, or as a consolidation task related to 3x,4x,8x multiplication facts. Pupils develop both their problem-solving and reasoning skills. They will also practice their mental recall of the 3x, 4x and 8x multiplication tables without the standard ‘fill out the multiplication table’. 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.

Make a fun craft project and use your maths to find out about structures with this quick and easy marshmallow igloo. Igloos are built out of blocks of ice or snow by Inuit people living in the Arctic regions of Canada and Greenland. They were used as temporary shelters when people were hunting. No need to worry, we won’t be expecting people to go into the Arctic and carve blocks of ice, this one is going to be made out of marshmallows – yum! You’ll only need a few simple items to make this project, and it can be an edible experiment too. The magic of maths is hands-on fun this Christmas! What you’ll need: • Bag of mini marshmallows or bag of marshmallows • If you are making the buttercream icing, you will also need • 70g softened butter • 150g icing sugar Activity sheets and notes for teachers can be downloaded for free. 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. Oh ho ho, and please do share your homemade igloos with us @IETeducation #SantaLovesSTEM

Make a non-alcoholic family friendly eggnog this Christmas, and learn about science and mixtures in this quick and easy festive recipe. Learn some amazing scientific facts while making this delicious, creamy Christmas treat - the magic of science is real-life fun! More recently, non-acholic eggnog has become a staple of Christmas celebrations, with Americans drinking over 58 million kilograms each year and Christmas Eve now being named National Eggnog Day. Ingredients needed: 500ml whole milk (swap for unsweetened almond milk if dairy-free or vegan) 200g caster sugar 100ml double cream (swap for full-fat coconut milk if dairy-free or vegan) 100ml water 4 egg yolks (swap for vegan vanilla pudding mix if vegan) 1 teaspoon vanilla paste (remove this ingredient if you are following the vegan recipe) Ice The engineering context Baking is engineering. It is using science, maths and technology skills to engineer and create solutions and new tasty products. Engineers need all these skills – precision in weighing out ingredients, the safety required in the kitchen and product design and quality engineering to test, taste and improve with each delicious creation! Download the free recipe and template! 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. Oh ho ho, and please do share your experiment highlights with us @IETeducation #SantaLovesSTEM

Learn how to create colourful, edible stained glass and discover the science of light in this fun experiment for kids. What ingredients will you need? • 790g white, granulated sugar • 475ml water • 240ml light corn syrup • ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar • Food colouring (red or green) Download the free Edible stained glass activity sheet to learn the science behind this experiment! 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. Don’t forget to take photos of your edible stained glass and share them with us @IETeducation

This resource will tell you how to make your own marshmallow. But not only that, we will be learning about the science of baking, and how a small change to the mixture can make a big difference. Have you ever tried a marshmallow? They’re delicious! You will be surprised by the amount of maths and science that goes into making these lovely little treats. Working out what works well, what doesn’t, how many ingredients to use and ratios, are all packed into one fun resource. 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 as a classroom lesson plan or to follow at home. Please do share your highlights with us @IETeducation. Oh ho ho, and please do share your poetry highlights with us @IETeducation! #SantaLovesSTEM

Give making a Yule log a STEM twist by using key maths skills to work on the weighing and timing for this delicious Christmas dessert. This is a great activity that brings together baking skills, mathematics and creativity, and tastes delicious! The Yule Log is a traditional cake eaten at Christmas. It is thought that this cake originated in France to represent the wooden log that was burned to bring good luck through the winter months. It was hoped that by burning the log and keeping the ashes until the following year, it would ward off evil spirits during the long winter months. Download the recipe and teaching notes for free. Oh ho ho, and please do share your experiment highlights with us @IETeducation #SantaLovesSTEM

Kids can create a delicious gingerbread house with this fun and easy baking recipe for beginners This fun and delicious recipe combines baking, engineering, and creativity! With this gingerbread house making project, children will have the opportunity to create their very own edible treat. This simple baking project for beginners provides a hands-on learning experience that explores the structural components of gingerbread house construction. Learners will examine the shapes and structures that contribute to the house’s overall stability, helping them develop a deeper understanding of engineering concepts. The engineering context Baking is engineering. Aspiring engineers can hone their science, maths, and technology skills through baking, as they use precision and creativity to engineer new and delicious treats. When it comes to making their gingerbread houses, children will need to channel their inner structural engineer to create a sturdy and eye-catching structure. The process of designing and building a gingerbread house requires careful consideration of the shapes, sizes, and placement of each piece, as well as the use of icing as a glue. Suggested learning outcomes This gingerbread house making activity offers a range of learning outcomes for students. In addition to developing baking and decorating skills, students will learn valuable STEM concepts related to structural engineering, including materials selection, load-bearing capacity, and stability. With guidance from their teacher or parents and our gingerbread house teaching activity overview, learners will have the opportunity to design and build their own gingerbread house, putting their newfound engineering skills into practice. By the end of this activity students will be able to design and make a gingerbread house and understand how to strengthen, stiffen and reinforce structures, gaining a deeper understanding of the principles of engineering. Download our free gingerbread house template and recipe A free gingerbread house template and recipe are available to download. They provide step-by-step instructions, a list of materials needed, and helpful tips for teachers and children alike. Oh ho ho, and please do share your baking and experiment highlights with us @IETeducation #SantaLovesSTEM

A maths-based challenge for KS3 to calculate the journey times and carbon footprint of different methods of travel As well as testing students’ mathematical abilities, this activity highlights the issue of sustainable travel and the effects of some modes of transport on the environment. This could be used as a one-off main lesson activity to use maths skills in context, or as part of a scheme of work on sustainability, to build knowledge and understanding of climate change and ways of reducing it. Activity introduction This activity is one of a series of resources designed in conjunction with Network Rail to develop understanding and skills in key maths, science, and engineering concepts. The carbon footprint data in the presentation is derived from passenger-specific figures published by BEIS/Defra Greenhouse Gas Conversion Factors 2019. Transportation speeds are approximations based on typical values obtained from commonly used search engines. Any statistical or speed-related data used in this activity serves its sole purpose within the activity and may not accurately mirror current real-world conditions. Variability might arise due to seasonal changes, environmental conditions, or legal constraints. When utilising the activity sheet, students can construct tables for each journey, showcasing their findings (as depicted on the sheet). For air travel, a buffer of 3 hours should be allotted to account for check-in, security procedures, and boarding at airports. To add an additional layer of complexity, transit times to airports and railway stations could be incorporated. The presentation includes supplementary slides for those who prefer kilometres instead of miles. The engineering context Engineers must understand how products impact the environment; This pertains not only to modes of transportation but also encompasses the production of new items. They can use this knowledge to balance the environmental impact with the function carried out by the product. Engineers can also develop new or improved Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity, students will be able to solve a contextual problem using division and multiplication, and they will understand how to calculate journey times and the carbon footprint for alternative modes of transport. 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.

An activity to compare journey times for different modes of transport In this fun activity for KS1, learners will calculate the times taken to complete the same journey using different modes of transport, allowing them to put their math skills into practical use. This activity is part of a collection of STEM resources developed to aid the teaching of the primary national curriculum. Its purpose is to assist in delivering essential topics within mathematics and science. This could be used as a one-off main lesson activity to develop basic maths skills in context. Learners will be given the “Who’s Fastest” activity sheet to complete. They will calculate the journey times for each mode of transport and rank them from fastest to slowest. After completing the calculations, the class will engage in a discussion. They will explore which mode of transport emerged as the fastest and why it held that position. Furthermore, they will consider which transport mode they would prefer to use for the given journey and explain their reasoning. By the end of this activity, the learners will have gained a deeper understanding of the relationship between distance, speed, and time while also having fun comparing different modes of transportation. The engineering context Comparing results is crucial in engineering as it aids in enhancing efficiency. Different modes of transportation have varying impacts on the environment. Consequently, a transport engineer’s task involves determining the most suitable transportation method for specific situations, such as employing trams in a city. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity, students will be able to solve a contextual problem using division and multiplication, and they will be able to understand how to calculate different journey times for alternative modes of transport. Download the free activity sheet! 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

A maths-based challenge to find stations on the rail network based on their journey times Can you use a rail network map to find stations based on journey times? Use your math skills to complete our station hunt activity sheet in this fun STEM challenge for kids! This is one of a series of free resources developed in conjunction with Network Rail to develop understanding and skills in key maths, science, and engineering concepts. Activity: In this fun maths challenge, learners will use a known starting position (station) and a journey time to identify a destination. It will involve adding different combinations of journey times to identify the answer. This activity could be carried out as individuals or in pairs and could be used as a one-off main lesson activity to develop basic maths skills in context. Learners will complete the questions on the activity sheet using the station hunt map as a guide. They should find the starting point station and move along the rail lines, adding up the time as they go along, until they reach their destination station. The transport speeds are estimates based on typical values, found using the most common search engine. Any statistics or data on transport speeds used in this activity are solely for the purpose of this activity and may not be an accurate reflection of actual current times, which may vary due to seasonal, environmental or legal limitations, for example. Additional complexity could be added by adding a set time (for example, 15 minutes) when train changes are needed. As an extension activity, students could work out their own journey time questions and try them on their friends. How long will this activity take? This activity will take approximately 30-50 minutes to complete. Tools/resources required Pencils Calculators The engineering context Calculating times is a vital skill that engineers use – it helps them make decisions about the best way to complete a task. For example, it helps aerospace engineers plan how much fuel to carry on a plane to allow it to fly for a long time. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity students will be able to solve a contextual problem using a time calculation and they will understand how to calculate different journey times between rail stations. Download the free Network Rail maths challenge activity sheet! All activity sheets, worksheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Please share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

Designing and making a zip line for a toy This is a project to build a model of a zip Line. It could be carried out in pairs but will work for individuals. It requires some space to complete successfully but can be executed both indoors and outdoors. This activity could be used as a main lesson activity to teach learners about the effect of gravity on a body falling in a controlled manner, friction or the practical application of trigonometry. Resources required: String or thin rope, 10m should be enough A ‘passenger’ for the zip line Paper clips or stiff wire Sticky tape A stopwatch or a stopwatch App on a phone A ruler or tape measure A protractor Some paper and a pen to take notes Download the activity sheets for free! And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

In this activity learners will sketch and annotated design for a sustainable pair of sunglasses aimed at the young professional adults of the future. This activity could be used as a main lesson activity to teach learners about generating design ideas or sketching, or part of a wider scheme of learning covering design processes and techniques. It could also be used as part of an introduction to sustainability issues, such as the negative impact of plastic waste on the environment. Resources required: A4 or A3 paper, if not using handout Pencils, pens, coloured pencils and sketching tools Optional, if available: 3D CAD software for extension activity Download the activity sheets for free! And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

A project to make mouldable plastic from milk In this activity, learners will make mouldable plastic (casein) from milk and then use a mould to form a shape. It will help them to understand how plastic is made from natural resources. In an era of escalating environmental concerns and an urgent need for sustainable materials, transforming an everyday staple like milk into a versatile and biodegradable plastic presents a compelling and innovative solution. This activity could be used as a main lesson to teach learners about plastic, covering manufacturing processes and techniques using natural resources. It could also be used as part of an introduction to plastics and their environmental impact and help develop their knowledge and skills in Design & Technology, Engineering, Science and Mathematics. This resource is part of a group for Plastic-free Month that could be carried out either in school or at home. The engineering context Engineers actively contribute to environmental conservation by seeking innovative methods to produce plastic. Although plastic is extremely useful, the finite nature of crude oil underscores the need for alternatives. Bioengineers are currently exploring using organic resources such as sugarcane, potatoes, and various plants to enhance the sustainability of plastic production. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity, students will be able to make mouldable plastic from milk, and they will understand that plastics made from natural products could be a way to protect the environment. Download our activity sheet and 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.

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.

We see aeroplanes fly, and cars move daily, but how do they move? In this engaging KS2 activity, students will learn about a vital force called ‘thrust’ and construct their very own balloon-powered car. Through this hands-on experience, participants will enhance their engineering skills, practical craftsmanship and their understanding of scientific principles. They will make and test their cars and discuss the force that makes it move - its thrust. This activity could be used as a main lesson activity to teach learners about thrust, or as one of several activities within a wider scheme of learning focusing on forces. It could also be used as a D&T or Engineering activity to develop practical making skills. Download the presentation for a step-by-step guide on how to make the balloon-powered car. The teacher could demonstrate the making shown in each step, and learners could complete each step after it has been shown. Alternatively, if learners are able, the teacher could show all steps first and then learners could make their car. The engineering context Comprehending thrust and its associated forces is important for automotive, aerospace, and space technology engineers. A prime illustration lies in designing high-speed racing cars, where the aim is to propel the vehicle forward with utmost velocity. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity, students will be able to make and test a balloon-powered car, and they will be able to understand what is meant by thrust. 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

In this activity learners will look at different methods to find position and direction on a map. They will learn how to use coordinates and bearings using angle and distance. They will work with a pirate treasure map and a series of worksheets to work out where the treasure is. Differentiated worksheets allow the learners to progress from using simple coordinates and vector coordinates to polar coordinates using bearings with angles and distances. This activity could be used as a main lesson activity, to teach learners how to use coordinates and angles. Further number skills may be used to work out map scale and distances. 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.

In this fun Halloween STEM activity for kids, students will learn how to use the Sun to tell the time. They will make a simple stick sundial in the school area, identify where the shadow is cast every hour and mark this with stone and chalk. The following day students can test their results to see if the sundial is accurate at telling the time. This is one of a set of resources developed to support the teaching of the primary national curriculum. They are designed to support the delivery of key topics within maths and science. This resource focuses on the making of a simple sundial built in the school grounds. This can be used to support learning of telling the time and to understand how light creates shadows. How long will this activity take? Approximately 20-40 minutes to complete plus follow up. Tools/resources required Sticks Stones/Pebbles Chalk The engineering context Solar engineers design and make solar energy projects, from large-scale ones to home rooftop installations. They need to understand how the sun casts a shadow during the day to make sure their solar panels produce enough electricity. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity students will be able to make a simple stick sundial and use it to tell the time and they will have an understanding of how the shadow is created with the stick blocking the sun. 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

In this engaging experiment, students will learn how to measure time by recording the time it takes to complete a walking race where the winner is the last person to cross the line, not the first! This resource is part of a series created to support the primary national curriculum. Its purpose is to aid in teaching essential topics in mathematics and science. Activity In this particular activity, students will participate in a slow walking race and measure the time it takes to complete it. Working in small teams, they will use stopwatches to time each other and record the data. The collected results will be organised and discussed as a class, using terms such as faster, slower, and quicker. This activity serves as a central lesson to teach students how to gather data through measurement and apply their numerical skills in a practical setting. It can also be utilised as one of several activities within a broader learning framework emphasising using mathematics and science to comprehend time measurement. This activity is suitable for groups of 4 or more participants and can be conducted in various settings such as the classroom, hall, or outdoors. The distance for the slow walk race can be adjusted to accommodate the available space, with a recommended length of 5 meters. It is ideal to mark the start and finish lines using tape or any suitable material within the available space. Before starting the activity, ensure that the learners understand how to properly operate the stopwatches, including starting, stopping, and resetting functions. The teacher should provide a demonstration in advance to ensure clarity. How long will this activity take? This activity will take approximately 40-60 minutes to complete. Download the activity sheet below for a step-by-step lesson plan. The engineering context Accurate timing plays a crucial role for robotics engineers. They must determine the speed range at which two-legged robots can walk without losing balance. These engineers design robots to assist astronauts in space missions and perform demanding tasks like heavy lifting in factory settings. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity, students will be able to measure the time it takes to finish a race, they will be able to sort and compare time data, and they will be able to use the terms faster/slower to describe the time result of the race. Download the free activity sheet! 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