Make a hanging-mobile timeline of the history of flight. In this engaging activity, learners will produce a timeline for the history of crewed flight. Rather than the conventional linear timeline, this version is presented as a hanging mobile. They will carry out research to identify the important technological advances and dates, then use this to create the images hung on the mobile. This could be used as a one-off main lesson activity to develop understanding that products and technologies change over time, or to build knowledge and understanding of flight. You will need: Access to internet or other appropriate research facilities Card Pencil & pens Scissors Sticky tape Cotton or string Coat hanger 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. And please do share your learning highlights and final creations with us on social media @IETeducation

Using our KS2 lesson plan and template, learners will design and make a charity box using card, glue sticks, split pins and decorations to count down the days of Ramadan while nurturing an understanding of this religious festival. In 2024 Ramadan starts on Sunday 10 March and ends on Monday 8 April. It is estimated that globally 1.6 billion Muslims will take part in Ramadan and will fast from sunrise to sunset for one lunar month. We’ve created this teaching resource to support the delivery of key topics within design & technology, religious studies and art. This could be used as a one-off lesson activity to develop making and designing skills or an understanding of Ramadan. Alternatively, it could be used as a part of a wider scheme of work to develop making skills for graphic products in design & technology. Learners will look at what Ramadan is, what happens during Ramadan and the importance of charity to Muslims. They will make a charity box that includes a feature to count down the days of the lunar cycle and can incorporate their own designs onto its external appearance. Tools/supplies needed: Paper and card (optional: paper plates) Drawing implement: colouring pencils or pens, pencils and rulers Scissors Glue sticks Split pins Optional: decorations such as sequins, glitter, etc. Suggested learning outcomes It is important for learners to understand all types of religious festivals as part of their religious education. This resource combines religious education with art and design and technology with the aim that the learners will be able to generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through discussion and annotated sketches, and to use a range of materials creatively to design and make this product. Specifically, children will understand the main considerations and features for designing a charity box for Ramadan and be able to make this box considering the key features required, inclusion of the lunar countdown and how aesthetically pleasing it will be to the customer. Download our activity sheet and other teaching 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. Please do share your highlights with us @IETeducation.

Primary classroom poster exploring the process involved in iterative design. To order your completely free posted pack, please visit the IET Education website.

From founding communications, such as the fire beacon, to being able to communicate with space, there is no denying that developments in communication have advanced at a rapid speed. This topic presents students with communications of the past, present and future, helping them to understand the principles that form the basis for these developments. Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links An engaging activity introducing students to the differences between analogue and digital communication. An analogue signal can be rendered useless by small amounts of interference, whereas a digital signal remains coherent. The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Download the activity sheets for free! All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

Looking at linkages using card models In this activity pupils will make models of three simple linkages from card. This is a fun STEM activity and a great way for KS2 to learn all about simple linkages. This resource could be used as a stand-alone activity or as an introduction to a design and make project, such as a greetings card with moving parts, a moving poster or display or a ‘grabber’ to pick things up. Activity: It can be advantageous to use a hole punch to create the holes where needed as this reduces the risk of tearing. Alternatively, the holes could be made by pushing through the card with a sharp pencil, into a piece of modelling clay. If tearing does occur, this can be addressed by using sticky tape on the rear of the part or background. For a moving pivot, the fastener goes through the two moving card parts and is opened up; for a fixed pivot, the fastener goes through a moving part and the background is opened up. Guides can be attached using sticky tape at each end. Whilst glue could be used, in practice this may not provide a sufficiently strong joint. As an extension activity students could produce a composite linkage that changes a single input motion into different types of output motion. Alternatively, students could create a moving model of an animal. The presentation can be downloaded below and includes detailed images for the making tasks plus additional support information for the teacher, such as examples of linkages made by pupils. Tools/resources required Copies of the linkages handout, printed on card, 1 per pupil (plus spares) Scissors Sticky tape Glue sticks Optional: Hole punches (ideally single hole punches) Pre-made models of each linkage, for demonstration The engineering context A mechanism is a group of parts that allow or change movement in some way. In practice almost all products that contain moving parts – ranging from scissors to pop-up books to car engines – include some form of mechanism. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity students will be able to identify the parts of a linkage, they will know how simple linkages change the direction of motion and they will be able to cut and assemble simple linkages using card and scissors. Download the activity sheets for free! 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

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

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.

Making a beautiful red gift envelope for Chinese New Year. In this activity students will learn about nets within a graphics project and will have an opportunity to use a net to make a Chinese red envelope. During the New Year in China, it is traditional to give the gift of a bright, beautiful red envelope to your friends and family. In Chinese the red envelope is known as 紅包, hóngbāo) and the red colour symbolizes good luck and prosperity. Often the envelope contains money. The envelopes are often decorated with good luck symbols like happy children, beautiful clothing and a peach. Download the activities 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. Materials you will need: Red card Glue sticks or PVA Scissors Optional: gold/Silver pens to add decoration Optional: pre-printed Chinese New Year images. 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. And please do share your learning highlights and final creations with us on social media @IETeducation

How sounds travel as waves of different frequencies and wavelengths From founding communications, such as the fire beacon, to being able to communicate with space, there is no denying that developments in communication have advanced at a rapid speed. This topic presents students with communications of the past, present and future, helping them to understand the principles that form the basis for these developments. This engaging STEM activity is aimed at KS3 students and deals with how animals use sounds and how sounds change in natural phenomena. This is so a student can understand how sound waves travel. The teacher will first distribute a copy of the ‘Animal Sounds’ handout, which can be downloaded below, to each student. Make sure students understand sound is a longitudinal wave of compressions and rarefactions of the material. Soundwaves follow the laws of wave behaviour, so they are a useful introduction to wave properties. This activity can be simplified (particularly for less able students) by creating a discussion on why different animals have different hearing ranges and their experience of phenomena such as the Doppler effect. Use the handout to discuss different sounds and what they might have learned in other lessons (e.g. music) about pitch, frequency, amplitude etc. As an extension students could produce a display from low to high frequency, showing where the sound ranges used by different animals lie. Students could consider how sounds outside the normal spectrum could be used to develop new products. For example, to make ‘silent’ devices to broadcast sound or data between two points. This is a quick and simple activity that will take approximately 15 minutes. The engineering context Sounds are vibrations travelling through materials. Many animals make sounds, either for communication or for location. Sound travels at different speeds in different materials. Generally, the denser the material, the faster the sound will travel. Sound is a longitudinal wave of compressions and rarefactions of the material (a rarefaction involves particles in the material being more spread out than usual). Sound waves follow the laws of wave behaviour, so they are a useful introduction to wave properties. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this free resource students will know that sound is produced by objects vibrating and they will understand that sound is a longitudinal wave. They will also know about the range of frequencies that can be heard by humans and other animals and they will understand that sound travels at different speeds in different mediums. All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. Please share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

Identifying which materials might offer the best prospects for a financial investment In this activity, students will investigate the properties of different types of smart materials and decide which ones might offer the best prospects for financial investment. The development of new materials with incredible properties is changing the way we live. From 4K TVs to super light airliners, these materials have quickly found their way into the modern technology around us. One area where modern materials have made a huge impact is in the development of prosthetic devices. Some of these devices are beginning to outperform ‘natural’ body parts. This is one of a set of resources developed to aid the teaching of the secondary national curriculum, particularly KS3. It has been designed to support the delivery of key topics within design and technology (DT) and science. Activity: Identifying which materials might offer the best prospects for a financial investment Learners will investigate the properties of different categories of smart materials and decide which kinds of materials might offer the best prospects for a financial investment. Students work in teams and present their results to the rest of the class. The activity offers strong opportunities for cross-curricular work with Enterprise. This activity can be extended with a related practical session ‘Smart and modern materials’, where students identify a material from its particular properties. The engineering context Smart materials are often at the forefront of engineering and technological innovation with engineers using them to create products that are more durable, adaptable and more efficient to manufacture. From building structures that can withstand earthquakes to designing prosthetics that outperform human body parts, the applications of smart materials are vast (and continually expanding!). By learning about smart materials, students will get an insight into how these modern materials are made, used and how they can be applied to real world issues such as improving people’s lives. Suggested learning outcomes This lesson will teach students how to recall a variety of different examples of smart materials and describe how their properties react to changes in their environment. They’ll also be able to investigate smart materials on both a theoretical and practical level, understanding their applications as well as their investment potential. Download our activity sheet for free! The activity sheet includes teachers’ notes, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download (including film clips!), and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. Please do share your highlights with us @IETeducation

A graphics project making Chinese zodiac animals that move! In this activity learners will learn about simple mechanisms (cams and linkages) within a graphics project. Learners will have an opportunity to use templates to help them cut out the parts for a cardboard Chinese zodiac animal. Download the activities 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. Resources required: Card tubes Wooden skewers Glue sticks/ glue Erasers Sticky tack Cardboard Brass split pin fasteners 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. And please do share your learning highlights and final creations with us on social media @IETeducation

Use mathematical calculations to decide whether it is worth switching to an alternative fuel Can data be used to determine whether it is worth converting to LPG? This activity will encourage students to use their problem-solving skills. Understanding what information is needed and how to use the information is a key part of problem solving. Download our free fuel consumption worksheet below to take part in this engaging activity. This is a great way for GCSE students to learn about fuel efficiency and develop their problem-solving skills. Students should to read the problem on the first slide of the presentation. Let them think about what criteria they can use to decide whether it’s worth converting to LPG. They should take into account the annual mileage, price of petrol or LPG at the local station and size of the car in question. They should consider the amount of money saved by converting vs the cost of the conversion. Some students may want to examine the time it would take to recover the cost of converting the car. They also need to be aware that “a car uses 10% more LPG than petrol when driving the same distance.” Discussion points Encourage discussion about which type of car saves most and get them to think about why this is. Remember they all do the same annual mileage! If students don’t consider recovering the cost of conversion, then prompt them at some point. Extending the problem It is possible to use the spreadsheet to produce a graph showing how the savings vary with annual mileage. Students could investigate the fluctuations in LPG and petrol prices over time to see if this would influence their decision. Potential GCSE content covered In this activity learners will use and apply calculations, use compound measures, calculate the percentage of an amount and consider the application of algebra to spreadsheets. What is LPG? LPG is a by-product of crude oil extraction and the refining process. Many people who consider LPG as an alternative to petrol do so because they believe that the combustion of propane results in lower carbon dioxide emissions. In terms of fuel costs, LPG costs a little more than half the price of petrol or diesel, but fuel economy is about 20-25% lower. Therefore, the overall running costs of an LPG car is approximately a third less than a petrol only car – but only once you’ve recovered the cost of the conversion. 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

Discuss the design of a step counter from the perspective of the engineer and the customer In this unit learners will integrate a BBC micro:bit based programmable system into a complete and commercially viable step counter product that will aid people aiming to walk a certain amount per day. What is the BBC micro:bit? This activity is one of a series of resources to support using the BBC micro:bit in Design and Technology lessons. The BBC micro:bit is a compact, pocket-sized programmable device designed to introduce coding and digital creativity to young learners. Packed with sensors, buttons, and a LED display, the micro:bit enables hands-on exploration of coding concepts through its user-friendly interface. Created as part of the BBC’s “Make It Digital” initiative, the micro:bit empowers students to bring their ideas to life by programming animations, games, and interactive projects. Its versatility and ease of use make it a valuable tool for teaching computational thinking and fostering innovation among beginners, encouraging them to engage with technology and develop essential digital skills. The engineering context This subject serves as an excellent focal point for instructing students about programmable components and the incorporation of embedded intelligence within products. These aspects align with the core elements outlined in the 2014 curriculum for Design and Technology at key stage 3. Furthermore, it presents a valuable opportunity to leverage the BBC micro:bit within the classroom environment, enhancing learners’ product integration abilities. Suggested learning outcomes Upon completing this task, students will be able to analyse and deliberate upon current products from the standpoint of the product engineer and the customer. Additionally, they will comprehend the distinct roles of individuals engaged in the design and production processes. 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

Decide on a systematic way to estimate the number of objects in an image In this engaging STEM activity, designed for secondary school students, learners will take images from the Hubble telescope and use them to estimate the number of stars contained in those images. Activity: Counting stars using estimation The first slide in the presentation below introduces students to the context of the challenge and pushes them to think about how mathematics can be used to solve a real-life problem. The second slide asks the students to estimate the number of stars in the image. A Geogebra file “counting stars” which subdivides the enlarged image into smaller grids for sampling has been supplied. Students will need to find a systematic way of estimating the number of objects in the enlarged image. One approach is to subdivide the enlarged image into smaller sections, count some of these and work out the mean. This mean can then be taken as the number of objects per subsection and multiplied by the number of subsections to get an estimate of the number of objects in the enlarged image. To obtain an estimate for the number of stars in the original image, this figure then needs to be multiplied by the number of enlarged images in the original image. Students will need to consider when to round off and what degree of accuracy is appropriate. Discussion points Comparing the different estimates obtained by the students would be interesting. Looking at the differences in their estimates for the number of objects in the enlarged image first and then observing how this transferred to the differences in the original image. Extending the problem This method is used in a wide variety of contexts, from estimating the number of hairs on someone’s head to auditing the number of insects in an enclosure at a zoo. This activity could be extended by looking at capture/recapture as a method of estimating animal populations. Potential GCSE content covered In this activity students will cover mean average, rounding and accuracy and reasoning from calculations. 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

Is it ethical to use microchip implants in pets and people? Living in a highly technological world, where access to information and entertainment is at our fingertips, the Inform and Entertain Me topic is a gateway to engage and introduce students to the principles and technology that form the basis for communication devices that are used in our everyday lives. Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links This engaging activity introduces students to the use of RFID technology. They investigate extensions to the use of such technology in various contexts. The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Download the activity sheets for free! All activity sheets and supporting resources (including film clips!) are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

Analyse an existing product and how this could affect the design of a new product In this activity students will learn about ergonomics and design by analysing a wireless product using ACCESS FM. Learners will identify strengths and weaknesses and consider how to improve the product. Learning about ergonomics is a fantastic introduction to engineering for children, allowing them to step into the world of designing and improving products in a practical way. This is one of a set of resources developed to support the teaching of the secondary national curriculum, particularly KS3. It can be effectively taught within design technology (DT) as part of the curriculum for systems and control, electronic products, or product design, or through science. In this lesson, students will work in teams to conduct a product analysis of a provided wireless product, such as a TV with a remote control or a remote control car. What does ergonomics mean in design technology (DT)? In design technology (DT), ergonomics refers to the process of designing products, systems or processes to take proper account of the interaction between them and the people who use them. It’s about ensuring that designs align with the capabilities and limitations of the user, thereby enhancing efficiency and safety. The engineering context Ergonomics & design is a crucial aspect of engineering that focuses on the interaction between humans and the products, systems, or environments they use. It aims to improve these interactions by making them more comfortable, efficient, and safe. Learning about ACCESS FM helps aspiring engineers understand the multifaceted nature of product design. It equips them with the knowledge to consider all the different factors that can impact a product’s success, from its cost and aesthetics to its environmental impact and safety. This broader perspective can lead to more innovative and effective designs. Suggested learning outcomes The completion of this activity will enable students to explain how the analysis of existing products could affect the design of a new product. Students will gain a deep understanding of product design principles, the factors that influence design decisions, and how improvements can be made based on thorough product analysis. Download our activity sheets for free! The activity sheet includes teachers’ notes, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. Please do share your highlights with us @IETeducation

Design and make a card model of a car body from a net In this engaging engineering activity for kids, pupils will learn about nets, wheels, and axles. They will combine these technologies to make the base and body for a cardboard car. This activity introduces and builds on knowledge of nets to make a complex three-dimensional shape suitable for the body shell of a car. It could be used at KS1 to develop practical skills making nets. Pupils may want to customise their car bodies by adding colour or graphics. However, please note that this needs to be done before the body is stuck together. Furthermore, it can reduce the risk of tearing if this is done before the net is cut out. As an optional extension, students could also customise the design of their vehicles, or even design their own body shells. The fold lines on the handout are all ‘valley’ folds – that means they are on the inside angle when produced. If they were on the outer face they could be referred to as hill folds. This activity will take 30-60 minutes to complete. Tools/resources required Copies of the car body handout, printed on card, 1 per pupil (plus spares) Scissors Glue sticks Optional: Sticky tape or double sided sticky tape Coloured pencils Hole punches (ideally single hole punches) Pre-made model of the example shape, for demonstration (this could be made large size, for example by printing out on A3 card) The engineering context Nets are used to make almost all forms of card packaging, ranging from simple cereal boxes with clear polymer ‘windows’, to display stands. A large supermarket may contain hundreds of thousands of different nets! Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity learners will know that 3D shapes can be constructed from nets using folds and tabs and they will be able to make a complex 3D shape from a 2D net. Download the activity sheets for free! 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

This activity focuses upon how materials have been specifically engineered to provide certain qualities and characteristics. Learners will explore a range of engineered, synthetic, and smart materials, identifying why they are ‘fit for purpose’ and how they have been engineered to achieve this purpose. Children will delve into learning about the chemical, physical and mechanical properties of their chosen material. Not only will they learn about what the material looks like, both visually and at a molecular level, but also what it was designed to do, how it’s made, what it’s used for, and if its function has evolved over time. This is one of a set of resources developed to support the teaching of the secondary national curriculum, particularly KS3. It has been designed to support the delivery of key topics within science and design and technology (DT). Activity: Researching a specifically engineered material Students will work in pairs to conduct research on a specific engineered material. They’ll be tasked with creating a fact sheet or PowerPoint presentation covering all aspects of their chosen material. This includes its chemical, physical and mechanical properties, its appearance, its intended purpose, its manufacturing process, its composition, its applications, and any evolution in its function. The completed projects can then be used as a wall display or presented to the rest of the class, promoting a collaborative learning environment. The engineering context By understanding the process of engineering materials, students can appreciate the real-world implications of engineering. This activity will help them see the creativity, problem-solving, and innovation involved in engineering, inspiring them to consider a career in this exciting field. It also emphasizes the importance of engineering in our daily lives, showcasing how man-made materials contribute to various industries and applications. Suggested learning outcomes Learners will gain a deeper understanding of how materials can be designed and made for specific characteristics and purposes. They’ll be able to identify the properties of materials required for a particular function and explore a range of engineered materials, understanding why and how they have been developed. This activity not only enhances their knowledge of science, design, and technology but also nurtures their research, presentation, and teamwork skills. Download our activity sheet for free! The activity sheet includes teachers’ notes, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. You can download our classroom lesson plan below. Please do share your highlights with us @IETeducation.

Designing an ergonomic shopping bag carrier for older adults In this activity students will design an ergonomic product aimed at older adults aged 60 and above. They will make use of anthropometric data to ensure that the product is fit for purpose. It’s an ideal product design lesson as it focusses on how ergonomics and anthropometric data can be used for making a shopping bag. This is one of a set of resources developed to aid the teaching of the secondary national curriculum, particularly KS3, supporting the teaching in design and technology (DT). Our teaching resources explain the concepts of ergonomics and anthropometrics. Using this information students will design a product that assists with carrying several shopping bags in just one hand, ensuring it’s ergonomically designed for the carrier’s comfort. They’ll use anthropometric data to tailor the product to the target audience while considering its aesthetic appeal. After sketching and annotating their shopping bag designs, students share their work with a partner who will give feedback on what works well as well as what might be improved. Download our activity overview and presentation and ergonomic product design handout for a detailed lesson plan for teaching students about ergonomic design. What does anthropometric mean in design and technology (DT)? In design and technology (DT), anthropometric data refers to measurements of the human body. This might include measurements like hand size, height, and limb proportions. When students design products, they can use anthropometric data to ensure their product designs are comfortable, safe, and efficient for the intended users. The engineering context Designers must consider how people will interact with their products and systems. The use of ergonomics and anthropometric data allows them to make sure their products are comfortable and efficient to use. Suggested learning outcomes Students will be able to design an ergonomic product (specifically, a shopping bag) that meets the needs of older adults. They’ll understand what is meant by anthropometric data and be able to use it for aid the design of a product. They’ll also be able to communicate their design ideas using sketches, notes and annotations. Download our activity sheet and related teaching resources The activity sheet includes teachers’ notes, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, 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.

This engaging activity 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 Design & Technology, and Engineering. Learners will gain valuable insights into what constitutes a sturdy structure and how to ensure it possesses strength and visual appeal. Applying their newfound knowledge, they will craft their unique ornament, putting their skills to the test. This activity can serve as a central lesson in teaching the construction of robust structures using relatively weaker materials. It can also seamlessly integrate into a comprehensive learning scheme emphasising practical making and assembly skills within design and technology. Educators seeking to enhance their teaching resources can use this activity alongside the IET Education resource: Christmas Mobile. Tools/resources required 5 sticks of the same length 5 rubber bands String or twine for the hanging loops The engineering context Structural engineers must understand how to utilise weaker materials to create more robust structures, such as using rope to make bridges. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity, students will understand how to construct a strong structure from weaker materials, and they will be able to make a strong and visually attractive ornament that they can hang from a Christmas tree. Download the Homemade Christmas decoration activity sheet for free! 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 creations with us @IETeducation! #SantaLovesSTEM. The History of Christmas tree ornaments The history of Christmas tree ornaments is a fascinating tale that dates back centuries. Historians trace the tradition of decorating trees during the holiday season to ancient civilisations like the Egyptians, Romans, and Vikings, who adorned trees with symbols of prosperity and religious significance. However, the modern concept of hanging ornaments on Christmas trees emerged in Germany during the 16th century. Initially, these ornaments were simple decorations made from fruits, nuts, and candles. Over time, the ornaments evolved, incorporating glass-blown baubles, delicate figurines, and intricate designs. Today, Christmas tree ornaments are cherished keepsakes, reflecting cultural traditions and personal memories and symbolising festive cheer and celebration.