Learn how to make a doorbell circuit in this fun STEM activity for KS2 This fun STEM activity for kids will teach you all about electrical switches and will show you how to build your own doorbell circuit! In this activity pupils will assemble a doorbell circuit. This develops understanding of how switches are used and how electrical circuits function. This could be used as a KS2 engineering activity or as a design and make or general STEM project. The presentation, which can be downloaded below, includes an image of the circuit and detailed instructions on preparing and joining the wires. As an alternative switch for an extension activity, a ‘blister switch’ is an improvement on the metal foil switch. It comprises of two pieces of foil, each connected to the circuit, but separated by a piece of card in which a square or circle is cut. The foil needs to be taut over the cut-out hole. When the top piece of foil is pressed, this should make a connection; and when pressure is released, the foil should cease to make contact. This activity will take approximately 70 – 90 minutes. Tools/resources required Projector/Whiteboard Components: 4 x AA batteries in holder Buzzers (e.g. Miniature Electronic Buzzer 6v) 3 lengths of wire, each 100-150 mm long (only a single length is required if a battery holder with attached wires is used; no wires will be needed if the buzzer also has attached wires) 2 metal split pin fasteners per pupil A7 card, 1 piece per pupil Sticky tape or electrical insulation tape. (Potential sources for the components include Rapid online and TTS group) If needed: Wire cutters/strippers Optional: Hole punches (ideally single hole punches) A7 card, 1 per pupil Metal foil A4 card and coloured pencils Scissors Pre-made model of the circuit, for demonstration The engineering context Circuits form the basis of all electrical equipment, ranging from lighting in home to televisions and computers. An electrical circuit is a group of components that are connected together, typically using wires. The wires are usually copper metal, which is highly conductive, coated with insulating plastic, to prevent electric shocks. The circuit must be continuous (i.e. have no breaks) to allow electricity to flow through the components and back to its source, such as a battery. Switches operate as an input device that make a gap in the circuit to stop electricity flowing when they are open. A circuit will normally also have at least one output device, such as a buzzer to produce sound or a bulb to produce light. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this project students will be able to construct an electrical switch and they will also be able to understand that a complete circuit is required for electricity to flow. 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.

An engaging activity in which students will analyse and investigate how hoverboards work. They will consider the science and technology behind how they are able to levitate, the main features of each design and what that could be improved.

Primary classroom poster summarising the FIRST LEGO League Explore programme. Download the single poster or order a full set of posters for free from the IET Education website.

Climate change and electricity? Investigate types of circuit with buzzers and lights to experiment and find out which is best for our planet. In this science activity for Key Stage 2, students will investigate different types of circuits to determine the most sustainable ones. They will then build their own Christmas lights by making a circuit with LED bulbs and crocodile leads. This is an engaging experiment that will encourage students to have fun with science! Students will first compare series circuits against parallel circuits. A series circuit is a configuration where components are connected one after another in a single path, creating a single flow of current. In contrast, a parallel circuit is a setup where components are linked across multiple paths, allowing current to split and flow through each component independently. Following this, students will replace the battery pack in their circuit with a solar panel. Students should consider the following questions: Are the LEDs as bright as with the battery pack? How does the weather affect the brightness of the LEDs? Can you add as many LEDs to your parallel circuit as you can with the battery pack? Solar power is a renewable energy source that is much better for our environment. In this activity, we use solar panels, which transfer solar energy into electrical energy and light energy without storing it. Solar panels aren’t useful for Christmas lights as it would mean that they would only work during the day if the solar panel were in direct sunlight. In order to use our Christmas lights at night, we would need to add a storage cell, such as a rechargeable battery, which could store the energy until we turn on the lights in the evening. We would still need to ensure that the solar panel is in direct sunlight during the day, though, to ensure our lights come on every evening. Next time you buy your Christmas lights, think about what you could do differently to help protect our environment, particularly Santa’s North Pole! Equipment required A 2 x AA battery pack and batteries A 3V solar panel At least eight crocodile leads At least 4 LEDs (Different colours if possible) 5V bulb to show the difference in light emitted Download the free Build your own Christmas lights 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. 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 share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation.

Use design and technology skills to use a 2D net to make a 3D Christmas cracker and hat This engaging activity for kids is one of a series of accessible STEM resources designed to allow learners to use the theme of the Christmas period to develop their knowledge and skills in Mathematics, Design & Technology and Engineering. Download our free activity sheet for a step-by-step guide on making a DIY Christmas cracker and hat from paper. This activity could be carried out individually or in small groups. Once you have created your Christmas cracker, consider what gifts you could put into it. Who would you give the gift to? Students could add designs to the Christmas cracker and hat as a fun extension activity. For example, they could add different colours and images related to Christmas, such as reindeer or snowmen. Learners could also create a joke book to be put inside their crackers using the IET resource titled ‘Christmas cracker jokes’. Tools/resources required Glue sticks Paper Coloured pencils Scissors Gold/Silver pens to add decoration Pre-printed Christmas images The engineering context Engineers use nets to make 3D models of structures and even products like vacuum cleaners. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity, you will understand what a 2D net or surface development means and how engineers assemble them into 3D objects, structures and products. You will then learn how to create and make a Christmas cracker and a hat from a net. Download the free How to make Christmas crackers 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. Oh ho ho, please share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation! #SantaLovesSTEM.

In this fun activity for kids, students can make cool crafts out of cardboard boxes. Use a cardboard box of any size and other recyclables you can find and use safely. We challenge you to get creative and bring one of our ideas to life or go a step further and invent your own project. Students should be encouraged to draw or write about as many ideas as possible for their cardboard box creation. They could make a castle, robot, rocket, or musical instrument. Learners could even think about a box they could get into or have fun with. No idea is too big! How long will this activity take? This activity will take approximately 30-59 minutes to complete. The engineering context Engineers must understand the environmental impact of the designs they produce and how their carbon footprint can be reduced, for example, by using recycled or reused materials more. This activity encourages resourcefulness by repurposing materials that might otherwise be discarded. Children can learn the value of recycling and environmental sustainability by transforming cardboard into imaginative creations. These crafts also enhance problem-solving skills as children conceptualise, plan, and construct their projects, developing critical thinking and spatial awareness. Download the free Crafts with cardboard boxes 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. 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 finished cardboard box design and share them with us @IETeducation.

Design and make a recipe book of kids party food for a celebration Make a recipe book with your class or child! DIY book binding is easy for kids and you can get creative to create a cookbook in 50-80 minutes. This is one of a series of resources designed to allow learners to use the theme of celebration to develop their knowledge and skills in Design & Technology. This resource focuses on the designing and making of a recipe book for food items that could be served at a street party celebrating a special occasion. In this activity, learners will design and make a recipe book of food items that could be served at a party. They will research ideas for recipes or create their own and present them in a book format. They will then bind their book together, ready to cook for the party! **Download our free activity sheet to guide you through. ** 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.

Design and make puff pastry pizza swirls with a STEM twist. Puff pastry pizza swirls recipe - easy and fun to do with 4-11 year olds! This can be done as part of a food tech lesson or at home, as the activity is all mapped to the UK curricula for you - download for free below. This is one of a series of resources designed to allow learners to use the theme of celebration to develop their knowledge and skills in Design & Technology. This resource focuses on the designing and making of a food item to serve at a street party celebrating the occasion. This activity could be used as a main lesson activity to teach sketching design ideas and preparing food products for particular events. It could also be used as part of a wider scheme of learning to support focused practical skills within food lessons or – through measuring and weighing ingredients – to support the development of basic mathematical skills. 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 Christmas STEM activity, students will make their own slime – the gooey slippery stuff that’s fun to pull and stretch. This experiment will dive into the science behind this sticky stuff and encourage students to have fun with science. Download the activity sheet below or watch our video for step-by-step instructions. If you’re up for an extra activity, try our snow sparkle slime word search where you look for words used in the 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 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 a classroom lesson plan for free. And please do share your learning highlights and final creations with us on social media @IETeducation #SantaLovesSTEM

Making a ghee lamp to celebrate Diwali A diya is an oil lamp that represents the triumph of light over dark, and good over evil. Diyas are traditionally made from clay or mud, with a cotton wick dipped in ghee to celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights. This resource focusses on making, decorating and safely using a diya. This could be used as a one-off main lesson activity to develop making skills with air drying clay. Alternatively, it could be used as a part of a wider scheme of work to develop designing and making skills in Design and Technology, and Art, or to build links with Religious Education. 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 either a classroom lesson plan or PowerPoint presentation And don’t forget to share your learning highlights and final creations with us on social media @IETEducation

Make a measuring wheel that measures distances This activity for primary school kids involves making a measuring wheel for accurately measuring in metres and centimetres. This activity combines maths and history and is inspired by the achievements of ancient Greece. It is thought that the inventor of the odometer may have been Archimedes, between 2200 and 2300 years ago. Resources are provided to support teachers in furthering their students’ maths abilities. And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

Measure the time taken to complete a task and plot results in a graph In this activity, students will take part in their own Olympics, an event invented by the Greeks, whilst applying history, maths, and PE. Students will record distances using a tape measure or an odometer to record the time taken to run different lengths. This activity will enable students to measure using different tools, record results and plot graphs. Resources for teachers are provided. And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

Position the tea party items into a square grid so that each row and column contains one of each Children’s maths games make learning fun! Download our five activities for free, and go through each one in turn to make up this fun maths lesson for 5 to 11 year olds. The aim is to position different coloured items into a square grid so that each row and column contains one of each. The purpose of this activity is to explore problem solving strategies including trial and improvement, pattern spotting and using known strategies to tackle a new problem. This lesson links to a 200-year-old maths puzzle and also to Latin Squares or Euler Squares which form the basis of popular Sudoku puzzles. There is also the opportunity to explore rotation and symmetry and to use these as problem solving strategies. 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.

Measuring the circumference of tree trunks and working out their age. They will then repeat this process with other trees and share their findings as a group. This exercise could serve as a main lesson activity to teach learners how to gather data through measurement and apply their numerical skills in a practical context. It could also be incorporated into a larger curriculum that emphasises the use of maths and science to comprehend the natural world. This is one of a set of free STEM 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 measuring the circumference of a tree trunk and using this information to calculate its age. Trees can be identified and measured in and around the school grounds as available. Appropriate safeguarding checks and risk assessments will need to be put in place by the teacher depending on where the measuring of the trees takes place. Taking the measurements may need two learners working as a pair or a group of three, one holding the end of the tape in place, the other wrapping around and taking the reading, optionally with a third recording the measurement. The measuring tape must be kept straight and level to give an accurate reading. This is a fun and practical exercise that will challenge learners’ maths and science skills and encourage them to think about the ways in which environmental engineers interact with the natural world. This activity will take approximately 40-60 minutes to complete. Tools/resources required Access to an outside area with trees Measuring tape Clipboards Calculators The engineering context As part of their daily job, engineers are obligated to frequently apply their mathematical knowledge and skills. Hence, it is imperative that they possess a thorough understanding of fundamental concepts, including measurement taking and interpretation. Environmental engineers are responsible for enhancing the quality of the surrounding natural environment. Their job performance improves as they expand their comprehension of it. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity students will be able to measure the circumference of a tree, they will be able to calculate the age of a tree using its circumference and they will be able to communicate measurements using appropriate SI units. 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

Solving addition and subtraction problems to crack the safe code 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 solving addition- and subtraction-based numeracy problems to find the code that will open a safe door. Do you have the maths knowledge to ‘crack the code’ and open the safe? Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links In this activity, learners will solve three addition and subtraction problems. The answer to each problem will give two out of the six digits needed to crack the code to a safe. They will reinforce their addition and subtraction knowledge and apply this in a fun context. This activity could be used as a starter activity covering learning from the previous lesson, a plenary activity reinforcing learning that has just taken place, or as one of several activities within a wider scheme of learning focusing on addition and subtraction. 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. Remember, the downloads are all 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

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.

Learn how to make papier mâché Easter eggs with balloons in this fun STEM activity for kids In this fun Easter STEM activity for kids, students will learn how to use papier mâché and a balloon to make and decorate an Easter egg that they can use as part of their celebrations. This activity is aimed at primary school students and could be used as a main lesson activity to teach learners about making techniques, design creativity and the use of colour, or part of a wider scheme of learning covering graphics-based techniques. There are also potential curriculum links with the Art department and STEAM based activities. This is one of a set of resources designed to allow learners to use Easter themes to develop their knowledge and skills in Design and Technology and Mathematics. This resource focuses on making and decorating a papier mâché Easter egg with different coloured paints. Follow this step-by-step guide to make your very own papier mâché Easter egg. Download our free activity sheet for more detailed instructions, teachers notes and optional extension work. Also included is a fun bonus maze activity. Tools/resources required A balloon Newspaper and white paper Wallpaper paste (flour and water or PVA glue can be used instead) A small plastic pot Scissors Different coloured paints and other materials for decorating, such as foam letters and card borders Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this Easter STEM challenge learners will be able to use papier mâché and a balloon to make an Easter egg model. They will also be able to use colour to decorate a papier mâché based egg and they will be able to show creativity when designing and making products. The engineering context Engineers make product models to test ideas and see how they will work. Papier mâché can be used to make 3D models. Its other applications include masks for the theatre, structures for carnival floats and even disposable fuel tanks for aircrafts! 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.

Following coded instructions for bisecting an angle In this activity students will learn how to code a geometric construction. They’ll do this by matching a set of instructions to the correct geometric construction. Learners will be introduced to the concept of Computer Numeric Controlled (CNC) machines. They’ll also be taught about the role of coding in executing precise tasks, such as bisecting an angle. This is one of a set of resources developed to aid the teaching of the secondary national curriculum, particularly KS3, supporting the teaching in maths or design & technology (D&T). Activity: Following coded instructions for bisecting an angle Students will use Robocompass, a web tool that lets leaners simulate geometric constructions on a computer screen. They will match each diagram with the correct instruction and arrange them so that they can create a storyboard of how to draw and bisect an angle. Download our activity overview for a detailed lesson plan for teaching students about coding a geometric construction. The engineering context Computer Numeric Controlled (CNC) machines follow pre-programmed instructions to execute tasks with precision, much like the coded geometric constructions students will work on in this activity. For example, CNC machines are used by engineers in manufacturing industries for common tasks such as cutting, drilling, and shaping materials. Suggested learning outcomes Students will learn how to bisect an angle while also learning how coded instructions can be used to execute geometric constructions. Download our activity sheet and related teaching resources 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.

Making calculations and applying formulas to a spreadsheet of data In this maths activity students will be asked to estimate the number of visitors within an aquarium. They’ll do this by using a spreadsheet mathematical formula that calculates the difference between the number of people entering and the number of people leaving the building. This is one of a set of resources developed to aid the teaching of the secondary national curriculum, particularly KS3, supporting the teaching in maths. Activity: Making calculations and applying formulas to a spreadsheet of data Students will view a dataset that has monitored the number of visitors entering and leaving a large aquarium. Learners will be asked questions based on this data, including how many visitors were in the building at a specific time. They will also be given a spreadsheet formula for calculating the difference between the number of people entering and exiting the building and be asked to adapt that formula for the different times of the day. Download our activity overview and presentation for a detailed lesson plan for teaching students about data logging. The engineering context Learning how to use maths formulas within spreadsheets saves a significant amount of time and brainpower, allowing engineers to quickly extract information from raw data. Devices that allow public buildings to monitor the number of visitors that are within a building at any one time are an example of data logging in practice. This may be essential for fire safety regulations or to prevent various areas from getting overcrowded. Suggested learning outcomes This data logging activity will give students the opportunity to identify and then attempt to explain numerical patterns and sequences. It also allows students to practice using formulas within spreadsheets such as Excel or Google Sheets. Download our activity sheet and related teaching resources 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.

What affects the properties of the material in a cast product? In this activity students will explore how changing the ratio of PVA glue to PoP (plaster of Paris) affects the strength of a composite material. They’ll test both tensile and compression strength to find the perfect mix. This activity is part of a series of resources designed to challenge the students by requiring them to apply the knowledge and understanding of engineering materials through a ‘batch’ production experience, including CAD design project , Investigating batch production, and Engineering design processes. It’s one of a set of resources developed to aid the teaching of the secondary national curriculum, particularly KS3, supporting the teaching in engineering and design and technology (D&T). Activity: What affects the properties of the material in a cast product? In this activity students will investigate how the proportion of PVA glue added to plaster of Paris (PoP) affects the properties of the material produced in a cast product. Students will work in pairs to create card moulds. They will then mix different ratios of PVA, PoP, and water, pouring each mixture into duplicate moulds. After the test strips dry overnight, they’ll conduct two types of strength tests: a tensile test (hanging weights) and a compression test (using a G-clamp). They’ll then be tasked with analysing the results to determine how PVA affects the material’s strength. Look for patterns and identify the optimal ratio of PVA to PoP. Finally, decide on the best ratio for your future casting projects and present your findings to the class, using graphs or tables to support your conclusions. Download our activity overview for a detailed lesson plan on CAD design. The engineering context As part of the production process, engineers and designers must test the properties of different materials in order to select the best materials for their products to ensure that they’re suitable (e.g., are they strong enough for the activity that they’ll be used for?). Suggested learning outcomes Students will be able to explain how to develop a product or material to improve the outcome (engineering materials). They’ll also learn how to set up an experiment that allows key decisions to be made from the outcome. Finally, they’ll be able to carry out a manufacturing and testing programme, understanding the importance of time allowance and quality control. 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, 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.