Evaluate strength and durability of materials that Santa could use as wrapping paper This fun and festive activity is suitable for 5-11-year-olds and will take approximately 1-2 hours to complete. What equipment will you need? At least six different types of wrapping paper. You can use more if you like (try and find ones which feel and look different, such as shiny metallic paper or tissue paper.), Some tape for wrapping, A large bin liner or a Christmas sack if you have one Five bricks/ large stones of equal size. (It works best if they aren’t perfectly smooth or round.) How to do it Step 1 – Wrap up each brick or stone with a different piece of wrapping paper. These will be your ‘presents’. Step 2 – Put them all in the sack together. Step 3 – Ask an adult to act as Santa and shake the sack for 30 seconds as though carrying it around. You could sing Christmas songs while you are doing it. Step 4 – Take each ‘present’ out and look at it carefully. Record any changes in the wrapping paper on a results sheet. These are your observations. Step 5 – Put them all back into the sack and get your helper to shake them again. Step 6 – Complete step 5 another three times (if your presents survive the shaking!). Record any changes each time. Once you have determined which paper would be best, you could write a letter (or even a poem) to Santa to let him know how you tested the paper and which paper you think he should use. You can also look at packaging materials to see which protects items delivered by courier or the post the best. For full instructions, download the worksheet and lesson plan 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. Oh ho ho, and please do share your experiment highlights with us @IETeducation! #SantaLovesSTEM.

Design a new uniform for Santa’s elves while learning about maths combinations In this engaging Christmas elf activity, students will use multiplication to determine the possible wearing combinations with a set number of clothing items. Children will have a lot of fun selecting outfits for their elves to wear and fostering their creativity and mathematics skills. It allows pupils to take a practical approach to applying multiplication. This activity is one of a series of accessible STEM resources designed to allow learners to use Christmas themes to support the teaching of the Primary National Curriculum. These resources support the delivery of key topics within maths and science. A version of this resource without a Christmas theme is available from the IET Primary website titled Fantastic Fashion. Tools/resources required Coloured crayons/pencils Sticky tack, double sided sticky tape, glue sticks Safety scissors Thin card for printing the Dress-the-Elf activity sheet. The engineering context Understanding combinations is vital to how engineers work out how to make things at the best cost. A bicycle has many parts, so an engineer will work out the best combination of parts to keep the production costs down. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity, students will be able to write and calculate statements for multiplication, they will be able to solve a contextual problem using multiplication, and they will understand how to determine the number of wearing combinations possible using a dress-the-Elf activity. The History of Christmas Elves We can trace the history of Christmas elves to European folklore and traditions. In Scandinavian countries, elves known as “nisse” or “tomte” were believed to be small, mischievous creatures who lived on farms and brought good luck to the household. Over time, these elves became associated with the Christmas season and took on a more benevolent role as helpers of Santa Claus. The popular image of Christmas elves as cheerful, industrious beings with pointy hats and pointed ears emerged in the 19th century, thanks to stories and illustrations. Today, Christmas elves are synonymous with Santa’s workshop, assisting in toy-making and spreading holiday cheer. 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! #SantaLovesSTEM.

In this fun maths activity, students will look at the way the length of the day changes over the year. They will use a data sheet to plot a graph, then interpret the data to work out the date of the longest and shortest days of the year in the United Kingdom. A free activity sheet can be downloaded. And please do share your poetry highlights with us @IETeducation! #SantaLovesSTEM

Get creative with crafts this Christmas and build a beautiful mobile inspired by the winter holidays A versatile lesson for teaching about constructing robust structures and the principles of balance. It can be incorporated into a broader curriculum on design and technology, emphasising making and assembly skills. Learners will be encouraged to collect a variety of natural materials that they can use to craft a Christmas mobile. This homemade mobile will make a great sustainable Christmas decoration for the home or classroom. This is one of a series of free STEM resources designed to allow students to use the theme of the Christmas period to develop their knowledge and skills in Design and Technology, and Engineering. The IET Education resource: Homemade Christmas decoration can be combined with this activity to create one of the hanging ornaments. The time and resources required for this activity will vary depending on the types and quantities of decorations. We recommend using one of the following suggestions to make your mobile: Fir/pine cones - Cones that have been collected previously and allowed to dry out are the best. They take paint well if dry and can look effective with decoration. Keep the hanging loops long. Small fir trees - These are simple to construct. Clay star - This will be a heavy element for the mobile. The impact of different weights on the mobile should be considered. Bolts do not have to be used if not available. Pipe cleaner star - Learners may need additional assistance with measuring the length of the pipe cleaner to split it into five. Using natural materials will give a unique, designer effect, but shop-bought decorations can be mixed in if time is short. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity, students will be able to understand what makes a structure strong, they will be able to understand the concept of balancing, and they will be able to make a strong, well-balanced and visually attractive Christmas mobile. 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 inspiring creative crafts with us @IETeducation! #SantaLovesSTEM. https://education.theiet.org/primary/teaching-resources/create-your-own-winter-mobile/

A design project to use creativity in gift making vouchers for family and friends In this activity, learners will make a book of Christmas gift tokens, add some Christmas promises, and then give it to someone as a Christmas gift. This is one of a series of free STEM resources designed to allow learners to use the theme of the Christmas period to develop their knowledge and skills in Mathematics, Design and Technology and Engineering. This activity could be used as a main lesson activity to teach how to make useable objects from printed graphic designs. It could also be used as part of a wider scheme of learning focusing on graphics skills, techniques and processes. Follow our step-by-step guide to create your very own Christmas gift tokens: Step 1 – Using the Christmas gift token worksheet, print off the front cover and as many gift tokens as required. Step 2 – Safely cut out the front cover and as many gift tokens as needed. Staple the front cover and gift tokens together to make a book. Step 3 – Add your promises. You can come up with these yourself or use the list in the activity sheet. Step 4 – Give your Christmas gift tokens to someone on Christmas day! Download our free activity sheet for teachers’ notes and fun extension activities! The engineering context Cheques are used as a payment method in numerous engineering scenarios, such as paying for the installation of a new alarm system or payment for the materials needed to build a bridge. Graphic design is key to new product creation and solving global issues. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity, students will know the purpose of and main elements that make up a gift token, and they will be able to make a book of Christmas gift tokens and add promises to it. Download the Christmas gift tokens 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. Oh ho ho, and please do share your gift token photos with us @IETeducation! #SantaLovesSTEM.

Design an emoji that reflects the festive season in this fun graphics activity In this fun and creative activity, learners will use the theme of the festive season to design an emoji. They will think about what the festive season means to them and list their favourite things about this time of year. They will then use this list to sketch initial ideas for their own emoji before producing a final design that could be used on a phone or computer. This is one of a series of free STEM resources designed to allow learners to use the theme of the Christmas period to develop their knowledge and skills in Design and Technology, and Engineering. This activity could be used as a main lesson activity to teach about sketching skills, following a brief and the use of modern communications technologies. It could also be used as part of a wider scheme of learning focusing on the design process or as a one-off transition activity. Resources required A round coin (e.g. two pence or ten pence) A4 or A3 paper Graph paper (or sheet from the resource) Pencils, coloured pencils, paints and/or felt tip pens A fine-liner pen for detailing on sketches A pair of compasses or round object to draw large circles (e.g. a drinking cup or mug) The engineering context The development of ideas is fundamental to the work of the engineer working to solve a problem. To be able to work to a brief is the start of all engineering problem-solving activities. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity, students will know the purpose of emojis, they will be able to understand how to design an emoji using a given theme, and they will be able to sketch with confidence! 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 U.K. nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Oh ho ho, and please do share your emojis with us @IETeducation! #SantaLovesSTEM.

Use recycled materials to produce a basket/bag that can be used to store small items or presents for Christmas. In this fun activity for Key Stage 2, students will develop their knowledge and understanding of the weaving process and how it can be applied to make products. This is a challenging exercise that requires dexterity. This activity could be used as a main lesson activity to teach about the skills and techniques associated with making textile products using weaving. It could also be used as part of a wider scheme of learning focusing on environmental issues within design and technology. This is one of a series of free STEM resources designed to allow learners to use the theme of the festive season to develop their knowledge and skills in Design and Technology, and Engineering. Recycling helps to reduce the number of new materials we need to make products. Your challenge is to use recycled paper to make a great-looking and strong woven storage basket for Christmas. Download our free activity sheet for a step-by-step guide on how to make your own woven bag! Tools/resources required Recycled paper Scissors PVA glue Skewer or dowel Empty card box 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. Structural engineers must understand how to utilise weaker materials to create more robust structures, such as using rope to make bridges. Weaving is an essential skill for textile designers and engineers. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity, students will be able to apply the process of weaving to create a basket, understand how strong structures can be created from weaker materials, and understand the benefits of using recycled materials to make products. Download the Make a woven bag activity sheet 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. Oh ho ho, and please share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation.

Learn about simple mechanisms and make an animal that moves in this fun and creative activity for kids! Students will use templates to help them cut out the parts for a DIY cardboard animal, and they will make the parts of a simple mechanism using cams and linkages, which will be attached to a round shaft made from a skewer; This will allow the legs of the animal to move up and down slowly. This activity could be used as a main lesson activity to teach learners about simple mechanisms and how the direction of motion can change from rotary to reciprocating. This is one of a series of free STEM resources designed to support the delivery of key topics within science and design and technology, which could be carried out individually or in pairs. The teacher presentation could be left on the whiteboard as a supporting guide as they do this. Learners may need assistance cutting the cardboard to ensure the cuts are accurate. As an optional extension activity, learners could add their own designs to their animal’s body and legs. Keeping the white paper template stuck to the legs allows them to be decorated as desired. Tools/resources required Card tubes Wooden skewers Glue sticks/ glue sticky tack Cardboard Brass split pin fasteners The engineering context Mechanisms are used in almost every moving product, ranging from trains and cars to washing machines and door handles that must be pushed down to open, see-saws and scissors. They either transmit motion or change it in some way, increasing or decreasing its strength, quality, or type. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity, students will be able to understand that a linkage and cam can create movement, they will be able to make an amazing animal from graphics materials, and they will be able to use cams and linkage to make the legs move on the amazing animal. Download the Animal graphics project activity sheet 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.

Design and make a sustainably powered light This fun engineering project for KS3 will allow students to embrace sustainable engineering as they learn to combine scientific principles with artistic flair to craft their unique and planet-friendly light. This activity could be used as a main lesson to teach about the benefits of using renewable energy and how it can help solve social problems. It could also be used as part of a wider scheme of learning focussing on sustainability and the 6Rs (rethink, refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle, repair). Approximately 1 billion people worldwide, or 15% of the total population, have no access to mains electricity. How could a lamp be powered for children living in these conditions to enable them to read and study at night? What you will need Hi-bright light emitting diodes (LEDs). Block connectors with two pin connections at either end, or solder and soldering equipment. Insulation tape. Red and black wires or crocodile clips. A low power DC generator/motor (a motor working in reverse acts as a generator). Pre-made or purchased turbine blades to attach to the generator. The engineering context Engineers bear a social and ethical obligation to consider the environmental impact when addressing design challenges. Understanding how to generate greener energy is imperative for aspiring electrical or electronic engineers, given that the renewable energy sector is one of the rapidly expanding industries in the field of engineering. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity, students will be able to understand what is meant by, and the need for, renewable energy. They will be able to design and make a sustainably powered light, and they will understand how wind turbines work. 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

**Play eye spy and tick off the items during traveling. ** Use our activity sheets, watch out of the window and tick off all the items you spot while traveling. There are two versions, one for younger children and one for those slightly older - both with questions to discuss along the way, and answer sheets to solve any mysteries. Download our free activity sheet today and get spying! Oh ho ho, and please do share your highlights with us @IETeducation! #SantaLovesSTEM

Find out the science behind ice During bad winters in the UK, we use nearly 2 million tonnes of salt to melt snow and ice. But how does salt melt ice? Watch our video and join Wilf Wonders as he explains the science behind melting ice and learn interesting fun facts that you can share this Christmas! Please do share your science highlights with us @IETeducation! #SantaLovesSTEM.

Investigate light and reflection by making a periscope. In this fun activity for kids, students will learn about the reflection of light in a mirror and make and use a periscope. Learners will have an opportunity to practice making a periscope from a card net. Nets are important as they allow 3D objects to be made when folded. This activity could be used as a starter or main activity to introduce light and build on experiences to explain how light travels. Alternatively, it could be used as a main lesson activity to teach learners how to use nets to make useable objects. It could also be used as one of several activities within a wider scheme of learning focusing on understanding the use of nets in maths. Activity: How to make a periscope This activity is one of a series of free STEM resources designed to allow learners to use Christmas themes to support the teaching of the primary National Curriculum. They are designed to support the delivery of key topics within science, design and technology and maths. This resource explores what happens when light reflects off a mirror or other reflective surface. Download the activity sheet below for a step-by-step guide on how to make your very own Pixie Periscope! The best results are obtained using small plastic mirrors (for example, cut from silver acrylic mirror sheets or extracted from toy compacts). If aluminium foil is used, care must be taken to ensure that this is very flat and the shiny side is used for the reflection; however, the observed image’s quality is likely still significantly reduced. Resources required Small plastic mirrors (best method) - if not available use aluminium foil (note: reflection is reduced) Scissors Card Glue sticks, sticky tape Double-sided sticky tape Rulers The engineering context Engineers need to understand how light travels and is reflected off surfaces; This is vital when engineers design rear-view mirrors for cars, periscopes for submarines and giant telescopes to look at the stars. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity, students will be able to understand what happens when light is reflected off a mirror, and they will be able to make a periscope from a net. Download the free How to make a periscope 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. Please share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation.

**In this engaging activity learners will have fun with science by making invisible ink from lemon juice mixed with water. ** Learners will then have the opportunity to write secret messages to their friends. Finally, they will use heat to reveal the messages. 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 Mathematics and Design and Technology. This resource can be carried out either in school or at home. This activity could be used as a main lesson activity, to teach learners about how substances can change colour when heated. How long will this activity take? This activity will take approximately 40-60 minutes to complete. Tools/resources required Lemons of bottle of lemon juice Water Small bowls Cotton buds/paint brushes White paper Hairdryer or lamp The engineering context Engineers are able to use colour changing chemicals to show that something is present. For example, bioengineers working with soil use litmus paper to see if the soil is acidic. Blue litmus paper turns red when it is placed in acidic soil. Materials engineers have created smart materials that can change their properties – for example, thermochromic pigment is used in food packaging to change colour when the food is heated to the correct temperature. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity students will know that some substances change colour when heated, they will be able to make invisible ink from lemon juice and they will be able to write secret messages. Download the free Making invisible ink 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. Please share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation.

Learn how to understand fractions by sharing a pumpkin pie amongst your friends at a Halloween party 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 using a pumpkin pie cutting approach to teaching fractions. Learners will relate to this approach as pies are a common food that can be shared in equal parts. This pumpkin pie fractions activity could be used as a starter or main activity to introduce fractions and can be developed further with other objects and a combination of halves and quarters. This exercise could be completed by individual learners or table groupings. As a fun alternative to the handouts, actual pies could be used (or pizzas or pancakes or similar). How long will this activity take? This activity will take approximately 30-40 minutes to complete. Tools/resources required Coloured pencils or crayons for completion of the handout activity The engineering context Fractions are an essential tool for engineers to ensure precise measurements and calculations in their work. Engineers use fractions extensively in their work, as fractions provide a way to express precise measurements and calculations. Engineers commonly use fractions to express measurements and dimensions of various objects, such as the height, width, and length of a building or the diameter of a pipe. Fractions are also used when working with ratios and proportions, which are important in many engineering applications. In manufacturing and construction, fractions are used to specify precise measurements for parts and components, which must fit together accurately. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity students will be able to understand that a half and quarter are ‘fractions of’ a whole object, they will be able to recognise, find and name a half as one of two equal parts of a unit and they will be able to recognise, find and name a quarter as one of four equal parts of a unit. Additionally, they will be able to understand that fractions, halves and quarters, can be combined as part of a whole unit. 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.

Scaling activity to change the size of items By applying mathematical knowledge and solving problems involving scale factors, we can manipulate scaled-up or scaled-down drawings. In this fun STEM activity for KS2, students will learn how to change the scale of items, by doubling or halving the size and drawing them to a new scale. This is an engaging and practical exercise through which students will gain a deeper understanding of multiplication and division and how they are useful methods to change the scale of items. 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 use of multiplication and division in the context of scaling an item to either double or half its size. This versatile activity could be used as a main lesson activity to teach learners how to work out scale or to reinforce understanding of multiplication and division. It could also be used as one of several activities within a wider scheme of learning focusing on the use of maths to understand ratio and proportion. Additionally, it could support the development of drawing skills in art. This is a Halloween-themed exercise that could be done as individuals or in pairs. Students will first use a grid to scale up a drawing of a pumpkin into a larger grid. Once this is completed, students will scale down a drawing of a ghost into a smaller grid. By utilising multiplication and division, students will gain valuable skills in the scaling of items. This activity will take approximately 40-60 minutes to complete. Tools/resources required Halloween Multiplication and Division Activity… Worksheets Pencils Erasers The engineering context Structural engineers work with architects to help design most houses, hospitals, office blocks, bridges, oil rigs, ships and aircraft. They make scaled down drawings for each structure. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity students will know how multiplication can be used to work out scale, they will be able to scale drawings back to their original size by either scaling up or scaling down and they will be able to solve simple problems in scaling contexts i.e., 2 times larger or 2 times smaller. 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.

Using coordinates, angles and directions to locate pirate treasure on a map In this exercise 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 are available, allowing the learners to progress from using simple coordinates and vector coordinates to polar coordinates using bearings with angles and distances. 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 position and direction using vector and polar coordinates, with the theme of a pirate treasure map. This activity could be used as a main lesson activity for KS2, to teach learners how to use coordinates and angles. Further number skills may be used to work out map scale and distances. This exercise could be carried out as individuals or in pairs. The learners will find buried treasure on a pirate map, using various methods to find position and give direction. Students will follow the instructions on the ‘Treasure Hunt’ worksheet and add the positions and lines of direction on the Treasure Map using a ruler and pencil. The worksheets are progressive; The first worksheet uses coordinates, the second uses vector coordinates and the third worksheet uses polar coordinates. This activity will take approximately 40-60 minutes to complete. Tools/resources required Activity and worksheets Protractors (360 degree) Rulers Pencils/Coloured pencils/Pens Erasers The engineering context When planning to build new stadiums and large industrial sites, civil engineers need a good understanding of map reading skills to make sure that the buildings are built in exactly the right place. Engineers use special equipment to get the bearings and distance correct. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity students will be able to describe a position on a map or grid, they will be able to give directions to a specific point on a map or grid using vector coordinates and they will be able to give directions to a specific point on a map or grid using polar coordinates. 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.

Learn how to make a shadow puppet for Halloween using card, craft sticks and sticky tape This resource focuses on making shadow puppets and developing supporting knowledge about the relationship between light and shadow. 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 design and technology and science. This could be used as a one-off activity in D&T or science and is designed to be carried out individually. The ‘character’ for the puppet made by each learner could be based on personal preference or could be linked to learning in literacy – for example, a character from ‘Wind in the Willows’ if that book is being studied. If linked in this way, the activity could be carried out in small teams, with each team member making a different character from the story. Additional time could be allowed to research the character for the puppet. The shape of the puppet could be taken from the associated handout, from outlines of images found on the internet, or drawn by hand by the learners. This is an engaging and practical exercise for KS2 that will develop students’ science knowledge and encourage their creativity. How long will this activity take? This activity will take approximately 20-40 minutes to complete. It should be noted that there are options presented in the activity sheet which could extend the time needed to carry out this activity. Tools/resources required Card (photocopies of handouts, if used) Masking tape Craft sticks Tracing paper (for screen) Large boxes (for extension activity) Scissors Torches The engineering context Engineers need to understand how light behaves when designing products for many practical applications. For example, when designing buildings, they may consider the provision of windows and artificial lighting; and when designing cars, they may consider the power and position of both internal and external lights and the placement of mirrors. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity students will know that blocking the path of light causes a shadow and to be able to use scissors to make a graphic product. This resource focuses on making shadow puppets and developing supporting knowledge about the relationship between light and shadow. 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.

Using directions to guide pupils through a maze from the haunted house back to their home In this fun Halloween maze game for kids, students will give each other instructions so that they can successfully navigate a Halloween table maze. This activity provides an engaging and practical way to test KS1 students’ maths knowledge as they will need to use mathematical vocabulary to describe position, direction, and movement. 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 developing understanding of geometric directions and involves giving verbal instructions to allow learners to successfully complete a table maze. Clear instructions and correct vocabulary are important to ensure that the learners know how to complete the maze. This activity could be used as a starter or main activity to introduce geometry, position, and direction. This activity needs to be carried out in pairs. One member of the pair will give instructions, the other will use those instructions to navigate the maze. The learner being given the instructions must wear a blindfold. Tools/resources required Projector/Whiteboard Make a maze with tables or use masking tape or other suitable method of marking out the maze layout. Blindfolds The engineering context When engineers program robots they need to be very clear in their instructions to avoid any confusion. For example, the Mars Rover must follow very detailed instructions to help it move safely on the planet and send back pictures. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity students will be able to follow a set of verbal instructions to successfully navigate a maze, they will understand the importance of clear instructions when instructing others and they will be able to use mathematical vocabulary to describe position, direction and movement. 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.

Consider how a jetpack works and sketch an idea for a wearable jetpack In this activity learners will make use of the theme of football on the moon to design a jetpack that can be worn by either the players or referee during a moon football game. They will look at jetpack design and the different parts of a jetpack. They will then sketch an idea for a wearable jetpack for use during the game. This is one of a series of resources that are designed to allow learners to use the theme of football on the moon to develop their knowledge and skills in Science, Design & Technology and Engineering. This resource focusses on learners looking at jetpack aviation to design a jetpack that the players or referee can use during a game of football on the moon. The teacher will introduce the theme of playing football on the moon and the challenges that would be faced when doing this, before introducing and explaining how a jetpack works. Learners will then have time to go through the design brief and sketch their design ideas before reporting back to the class in an informal style or as part of a formal presentation. This activity can be simplified (particularly for less able students) by providing sentence starters for annotations/labelling of sketches and/or providing templates for learners to draw around, such as images of the referee and players. As an extension learners can make a life size model of the jetpack or design a spacesuit to be work by the players and/or referee. This activity is designed to take between 50-80 minutes. The engineering context Travelling and potentially living on the moon presents all sorts of challenges for engineers to overcome. For example, how will we breathe, how will we cope with much lower gravity, how will we play sports and keep fit? Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this free resource students will be able to design a wearable jetpack for a game of football on the Moon; know the different parts of a jetpack; and understand how jetpacks function and the technology needed to make them work. 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.

Designing a robot that can perform the duties of an assistant referee during a football game In this activity learners will make use of the theme of football on the moon to design a robot that can perform the duties of an assistant referee during a game in the ‘Lunar League’. They will consider the challenges associated with playing football on the moon and the duties of an assistant referee. They will then produce a labelled sketch of their idea to meet a set of design criteria. This is one of a series of resources that are designed to allow learners to use the theme of football on the moon to develop their knowledge and skills in Design & Technology and Engineering. This resource focusses on learners designing a robot to act as an assistant referee during a game of football on the moon. The teacher will introduce the theme of playing football on the moon and the challenges that would be faced when doing this, before explaining the task to learners and introducing the design brief. Learners will then have time to sketch their design ideas and report back to the class on their successes and failures and what they would do differently if they were to repeat the task. As an extension learners can design a logo for the Lunar League that could be shown on the side of the robot assistant referee; produce a model and prototype of the design idea, using electronics to make it functional; and/or design a robot referee for the games of football to be played on the moon. This activity is designed to take between 50-80 minutes. The engineering context Travelling and potentially living on the moon presents all sorts of challenges for engineers to overcome. For example, how will we breathe, how will we cope with much lower gravity, how will we play sports and keep fit? Engineers have a moral and ethical responsibility to ensure that their work is sustainable and that they do not negatively impact the environment. This includes the use of sustainable energy sources to power products. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this free resource students will be able to understand the challenges associated with playing football on the moon; understand the roles and responsibilities of an assistant referee in a game of football; and be able to design a robot that can perform the duties of an assistant referee for a game of football on the moon. 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.