In this festive activity designed for secondary school students, learners will design a high-tech, environmentally friendly replacement for Santa’s sleigh. The sleigh will use a sustainable method of allowing it to fly through the air to deliver the presents. This free resource will build knowledge and skills in Design and Technology and Engineering. A activity sheet, presentation and design sheets are available to download for free. And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

In this festive STEM graphics project, students will use a net to make a naughty or nice gauge and customise it to their own design. This activity could be used as a main lesson 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 how maths can be utilised to understand the use of nets. Nets are important as they allow 3D objects to be made when folded. 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 design and technology, and maths. The graphics could be added by hand or using IT. The examples at the end of the presentation were made by learners using computers at home during a lesson delivered using conferencing software. Resources required A4 paper or thin card for handouts Scissors Rulers Brass split pin fasteners Drawing and colouring equipment If available, the handout should be printed on a thin card, as greater rigidity improves performance. The engineering context Engineers use gauges to give visual displays of the amounts or levels of things. This can range from the volume control on a television to the fuel tank on a car to a temperature gauge on a machine. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity, students will understand that gauges are used to measure things, and they will be able to make a graphic product by cutting and folding a net. Download the Naughty or nice 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 do share your classroom highlights with us @IETeducation! #SantaLovesSTEM.

This free resource focuses on the making of a magic trick which makes a pack of cards disappear, using complex graphics products made from nets. Magic tricks use design and mathematics to make them work effectively and this trick uses boxes that must fit together snugly to deceive the audience. A free activity sheet and handout is available to download below. And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

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.

A project to make and find out how far a paper plane can fly In this activity learners will make a paper plane to help them understand aerodynamics in action. They will also test it to see how far it will fly and the time it stays in the air. This activity could be used as a main lesson activity to teach learners about modelling and prototyping, or part of a wider scheme of learning covering manufacturing processes and techniques. It could also be used as part of an introduction to aerodynamics. Resources required: A4 printed paper aeroplane templates Stopwatches (to measure flight time during testing) Download the free activity sheet below! Download our activity sheet and other related resources for free! All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. The activity sheet includes teachers’ notes, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. You can download our step-by-step instructions below as either a classroom lesson plan or PowerPoint presentation. Please do share your highlights with us @IETeducation.

In this pulleys A Level maths resource, you examine forces in equilibrium in a hands-on activity and explore A Level maths. Can you use your knowledge of mechanics to predict the mass of the unknown object? Do the ks5 calculations and then check your predictions. This practical is designed to be easily set up and carried out in an A Level maths classroom using simple equipment. It will help students to understand the mechanics topics of forces and Newton’s laws in A level Mathematics. It is covered in KS5 AQA A Level maths and Edexcel A Level maths curricula. The pulleys video features the equipment needed and the practical procedure. The teacher notes contain additional guidance on carrying out the activity, sample calculations and suggested points for discussion, as well as an indication of some relevant real-life applications. Download the activity sheets for free! And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation as you find more A Level maths resources and A Level maths lesson plans from the IET.

Designing a sustainable high-tech replacement for Santa’s famous red suit In this activity, learners will design a replacement for Santa’s suit that meets a series of design criteria and incorporates at least one technology to make Santa’s work easier. This free resource will develop creativity and graphics skills in design and technology, as well as increasing understanding of how developments in technology affect our lives. A activity sheet, presentation and template are available to download for free. And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

Learn how to make Rudolph fly like a rocket with our festive science experiment. This quick and simple science experiment will teach students about the result of the chemical reaction between an alkali (bicarbonate of soda) and an acid (white wine vinegar) when you try and trap the gas that is produced. Top tip: do this one outside, as it can be messy. What equipment will you need? A plastic camera film canister, bicarbonate of soda (or an effervescent tablet), white wine vinegar, paper, scissors colouring pencils, a red nose, sticky tape How to do it? Step 1 Cut out a piece of paper so that it is tall and wide enough to wrap around your plastic canister. Step 2 On the paper, draw your very own Rudolph and colour it in. Step 3 Stick the red nose on Rudolph. Step 4 Take the lid off your plastic canister and turn it upside down so the open end is face down on the table. Step 5 Wrap the picture around the plastic canister and stick it in place. Step 6 Turn the canister the other way up so the opening faces upwards (Rudolph should now be upside down). Step 7 Fill the canister halfway with white wine vinegar. Now this is where you need to be super speedy: Step 8 Drop an effervescent tablet into the canister, put the lid on tightly, then turn it upside down (Rudolph will now be the right way up). Wait for him to blast off! Watch the video from Marvellous Marthy and download the free activity sheet to join in the fun this Christmas! 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.

Build a simple snowball catapult capable of firing cotton wool balls in this festive activity for kids. By the end of this activity, you will be able to: Engineer a catapult that harnesses potential energy and then releases it quickly, transferring that potential energy into movement as the snowball is fired into the distance. How long will this activity take? This activity will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. To extend your catapult design skills and understanding of levers, try the Build a popsicle stick catapult activity. What equipment will you need? 9 x lollipop sticks, 2 x elastic bands, cotton wool balls How to do it Step 1 Stack 5 of the lollipop sticks on top of one another. Step 2 Place the 6th lollipop stick across the stack of 5 sticks in the shape of a cross. Step 3 Place the remaining 3 sticks on top of the ‘cross’ stick, like the first 5 lollipop sticks. Step 4 Wrap the elastic bands tightly around the thick stack of lollipop sticks at either end. Step 5 Pull a piece of cotton wool from your cotton wool ball and roll it around to make a snowball. Step 6 Place the snowball on the longest end of the ‘cross’ stick, and press down on the shorter end using one hand. Step 7 Using the other hand, press back on the snowball and then fire! Watch Marvellous Marthy and download the free activity sheet today! 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.

Explore the risks associated with exposure to microwaves 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 allows students to explore the hazards and risks associated with exposure to microwaves. A microwave monitor is used to measure the microwave radiation from a microwave oven and a working mobile phone at a range of distances. 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

Investigate the salinity of different water samples Water is crucial to human life, but it can also be a killer. Drinking or cooking water contaminated with micro-organisms or chemicals is a leading cause of disease and death across the world. Poor facilities for the disposal of sewage and other waste water can quickly lead to the spread of dangerous diseases. Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links In this practical activity students investigate the salinity of three different water samples using a multimeter. Students first calibrate their salination probe and test the salinity of their solutions. Students can be asked to suggest how errors might have appeared in their results and what could be done to minimise or eliminate them. This activity can be used as an extension to the ‘Filtering water’ activity. 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

Developing a marketing and branding campaign for Pure Water An essential part of a product’s identity is the logo that is used to represent it. In this activity, students will work on developing a ‘marketing and branding’ campaign for a drinking water product by Pure Water. The campaign will need to design the overall package for the scheme, including logos, slogans, adverts, podcasts, posters etc. As a class, brainstorm what the essential criteria are for an effective logo. Then participants generate a range of ideas select their best idea and develop this in a suitable form. Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links This activity requires participants to apply understanding of creative thinking, product development and graphic design to a design and technology context. Download the free activity sheet! 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. Please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation Tools/resources required Projector/whiteboard 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. To watch the ‘Pure water’ video, please visit the IET Education website.

Primary classroom poster looking at how the design of the Mars Curiosity enables it to explore the planet Mars effectively. Download the single poster here or order a full set of posters for free from the IET Education website.

Calculating the energy used by different electrical appliances and devices within the home In this activity learners will calculate the energy usage of different electrical appliances. They will first calculate the power consumption using P = I V, then use the results of these calculations to work out how much energy each uses in kilowatt hours (kWh). This activity could be used as a main lesson activity to teach about electrical power and energy, and how each are calculated. It could also be used as part of a wider scheme of learning focussing on electricity and the National Grid or as an exercise to use mathematical skills in a practical context. This is one of a series of resources developed in association with the National Grid ESO, to allow learners to develop their knowledge and skills in Design & Technology and Engineering. This resource focusses on calculating the energy usage of different appliances and considering how this could be reduced. National Grid ESO ensure that Great Britain has the essential energy it needs by ensuring supply meets demand every second of every day. This activity is designed to take between 40-70 minutes. Tools/resources required Writing implements (pens or pencils) Calculators The engineering context 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 reducing energy consumption wherever possible. As such, it is important that all engineers understand how products and systems are powered and how much energy they use. Power engineering is a very important field which focusses on how energy is generated, transmitted and used by homes and businesses. There are lots of well-paid and rewarding careers available in this area. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this free resource students will be able to calculate the power consumption of different appliances using P = I V; calculate the energy consumption of different appliances; and be able to show calculated data as part of a table. All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. The activity sheet includes 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 about ancient Egypt and discover how to write your name in hieroglyphics In this fun and engaging activity for kids, students will learn about ancient Egyptian writing systems. Students will understand what hieroglyphics are and how they were used in ancient Egypt. They will then learn how to write their name in hieroglyphics. Resources and activity sheets are included to provide support for teachers. Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links In this activity learners will discover how to write in hieroglyphics. This could be used as a main lesson activity, to teach learners about the works of the ancient Egyptians contributing to learning in D&T, Art and History. 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. And please do share your learning highlights and final creations with us on social media @IETeducation or send them via email to IETEducation@theiet.org to be featured in our online gallery. Downloadable content Write in hieroglyphics activity Write in hieroglyphics presentation Write in hieroglyphics handout Tools/resources required Paper Pens/pencils 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.

In this activity learners will carry out a practical investigation to investigate how spur gears work, including calculation of simple gear ratios and assembling models of simple gear trains. Gears are used to change the speed at which something turns. A series of gears that turn each other are called a ‘gear train.’ This resource has been developed with the support of the Bugatti Trust Museum and Study Centre and focuses on the role of gears in a mechanism. The main activity involves making a series of spur gears to calculate gear ratios and see them working. Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links This activity could be used as a main lesson activity, to introduce the concept of gears in D&T or the practical use of ratios in maths, or as part of a project/series of lessons creating a mechanised object. 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. And please do share your learning highlights and final creations with us on social media @IETeducation or send them via email to IETEducation@theiet.org to be featured in our online gallery. Tools/resources required • Scissors • Glue sticks • Sharp pencil • Card and Split pins • Blu Tack (for piercing the card safely) • Cardboard (Alternative: foam board and thumb tacks) 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.

Learn about sound waves in this free STEM with this free lesson plan for KS3 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 that 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. Tools/resources required Calculators 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. And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

Learn about the technology behind satellite navigation systems and discuss the pros and cons of using them Can your students consider how a GPS system functions and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using them? This activity is suitable for KS3 and KS4 and encourages students to undertake research and produce a visual display. This activity is an engaging investigation into the uses of communication technology in the modern world. This activity is an individual activity and could be run in an ICT suite to allow students to use the internet for research. Distribute the Sat Nav handout to students. This handout gives some outline information about satellites and an un-annotated diagram. Students can cut out or copy the un-annotated diagram and add information to this to produce a visual display of how a Sat Nav system works. There are a series of questions on the Sat Nav handout. Questions 1-4 are designed to get students to undertake research on the topic of satellites and their functionalities and capabilities. This is a simple activity that will take approximately 30 minutes to complete. How does a Sat Nav system work? What we often refer to as ‘Sat Nav’ is properly called the Global Positioning System (GPS). This uses satellites that continually transmit a signal. They are like an accurate orbiting clock. The signal from at least three and up to seven satellites is received and compared by the Sat Nav device. Using some complicated maths, the Sat Nav device can work out not only where it is on the Earth’s surface, but at what altitude it is as well. The position information is compared with a map downloaded and stored by the Sat Nav device. The satellites tell you where you are, and the mapping hardware fills in the pictures of the road around you. The satellites need to have a clear path through the air to the Sat Nav device – this is normally called a clear line of ‘sight’. The engineering context 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. Download the free How does a Sat Nav system work? activity sheet! All activity sheets, worksheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Please share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

An engaging activity in which students will develop a marketing strategy and advertising materials for the product. It will be taught through teamwork mirroring the design process within a ‘design consultancy.’ Each team will pitch for the tender at the end of the unit, presenting ideas to the class. This activity could be taught in design & technology, with the emphasis on product design or graphics.

How to draw an exploded view 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 maths. This resource focusses on drawing exploded views of products. Different types of drawing are used to communicate different types of information. Exploded views show how the component parts of a product relate to each other. These are widely used to support the assembly of products, for maintenance activities and when building flat pack furniture at home. Producing an exploded view develops drawing skills, whilst simultaneously allowing concepts such as dimensions, proportion and scale to be introduced in a practical context. In this activity learners will produce an exploded view drawing of a pen, working in proportion and ideally to scale. This could be used as a one-off activity, an extension to maths learning on scale, or linked to D&T activities such as product analysis or section drawing. It could also be used in conjunction with the IET primary poster – Exploded Views. 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. 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.