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Make a paper Christmas star lantern (Primary)
In this festive graphics project designed for primary aged kids, students will use nets to make parts from card and paper, which they will then assemble into a lantern shaped like a Christmas star.
This is a free resource that encourages learners to have fun with maths. Free handouts and templates are available to download below.
Oh ho ho, and please do share your creative highlights with us @IETeducation #SantaLovesSTEM
Artificial intelligence poster
Secondary classroom poster looking at AI and its applications in the modern world.
Download the single poster or order a full set for free from the IET Education website.
Make a flapping bat
In this activity learners will make use of the theme of Halloween to make a flapping bat decoration. They will learn about the history of Halloween and why bats are an important part of it. They will then learn how to make a simple mechanism for a flapping bat. Finally, they will test and adjust their flapping bat and observe how it works.
This activity could be used as a main lesson activity to teach about basic marking out, testing and model making skills. It could also be used as part of wider scheme of learning focussed on designing and making products within a Halloween-themed context, alongside other IET Halloween themed resources.
Activity: Making a flapping bat for a Halloween decoration
Learners will make use of the theme of Halloween to develop their knowledge and understanding in Design & Technology and Engineering and make a flapping bat to decorate their home or classroom.
Tools/supplies needed:
Printed template
Good quality card (corrugated or grey card)
String
Small change, 1p or 2p pieces, washers or small weights
Scissors
Sticky tape
A stick to hold the bat
Black paint
Pencil
Googly eyes (optional)
Craft knife
Extension
Make another bat from thin painted plywood to make it more weatherproof
Cut out shapes to make another type of animal - for example, birds or pterodactyls
Research more about bats and how they act
The Engineering Context
Engineers can learn a lot from nature in terms of how to design and make products and structures. For example, how bats fly and ‘see’ in the dark – this is similar to the principles of sonar and radar. Iterative design is a key strategy for engineers to use when designing and producing ideas for products.
Suggested learning outcomes
This resource combines Design and Technology with Engineering, with the aim learners will be able to understand the origins of Halloween and how it is celebrated today; be able to make a flapping bat decoration for Halloween; be able to test and balance the bat decoration to make it work well; and understand how iterative design works and is how it is used.
Download our activity sheet and other teaching resources
All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs.
The activity sheet includes teachers’ notes, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
You can download our step-by-step instructions as a classroom lesson plan and PowerPoint presentation.
Please do share your highlights with us @IETeducation.
Make a dancing skeleton
This resource focusses on learners working out the names of the main bones within the human body and then using their knowledge of these bones to complete the activity.
In this project learners will learn about the movement of the bones in the human body. They will then make their own dancing skeleton from card. Finally, they will test their skeleton and observe how it works.
This activity could be used as a main lesson activity to teach learners about human anatomy. It could also be used as part of a wider scheme of learning focussing on the human body, mechanisms and movements, or designing and making products within a Halloween-themed context, alongside other IET Halloween themed resources.
Activity: Making a dancing skeleton with movable arms and legs
Learners will make use of the theme of Halloween to learn all about the skeleton – what it is, it’s function and importance within the human body.
Tools/supplies needed:
Scissors
Card or cardboard
Glue
Paper fasteners
String
Drinking straws
Tape
Eraser or ball of sticky tack
Optional: thin wood/bamboo skewers with the points removed
Extension
Can you add linkages to make the body move differently? Or make more than one limb move at the same time?
Can you make the arms and legs bend at the elbows and knees?
The Engineering Context
Understanding about how something works helps engineers understand how to improve it. It can also give inspiration for other products or objects.
Learning how the human body works and moves can help Engineers to transfer this into other objects, such as walking robots or prosthetic limbs.
Suggested learning outcomes
This resource combines Science, Design and Technology and Engineering, with the aim that the learners will be able to know what is meant by a skeleton, be able to name and locate major bones in the human body and be able to make a model of a skeleton using graphics materials.
Download our activity sheet and other teaching resources
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 a classroom lesson plan and PowerPoint presentation.
Please do share your highlights with us @IETeducation.
Make a spiders web
In this activity learners will make use of the theme of Halloween to make a spider’s web decoration.
They will learn about the history of Halloween and why spiders and spiders’ webs are an important part of it. They will then use threads to make their own spiders web on a card backing.
This activity could be used as a main lesson activity to teach about threading and simple textiles hand-making skills. It could also be used as part of wider scheme of learning focussed on designing and making products within a Halloween-themed context, alongside other IET Halloween themed resources.
**Activity: Making a spider’s web for Halloween **
Learners will make use of the theme of Halloween to learn why spider’s make webs, to explore the properties of spider’s webs and use their finding to create their own web using string or wool.
**Tools/supplies needed: **
String or wool (or cotton for the extension)
Scissors and/or craft knife
A large piece of corrugated cardboard e.g. from the side of a box
Optional
Spider cut-outs
Googly eyes
Glue gun or superglue
The Engineering Context
Engineers can learn a lot from nature in terms of how to design and make products and structures. For example how spiders’ webs influence the design of suspension bridges.
**Suggested learning outcomes **
This resource combines Design and Technology with Engineering, with the aim that the learners will be able to understand the origins of Halloween and how it is celebrated today, know how a spider makes its web and be able to use thread and knots to construct a spiders’ web.
Download our activity sheet and other teaching resources
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 a classroom lesson plan and PowerPoint presentation.
Please do share your highlights with us @IETeducation.
Balance the broomstick
This resource focusses on learners working out whether creatures and objects with different masses will successfully balance a lever, in this case the witch’s broomstick.
In this activity learners will make use of the theme of Halloween to learn how a simple lever works and how it can be balanced. They will work through a series of examples to see whether different animals sat at each end of the broomstick will balance it or not. They will then find as many ways of balancing the broomstick as possible, using a given set of creatures, animals and objects with different masses.
This activity could be used as a main lesson activity to teach about simple levers and how they work, or to introduce the concept of levers, mass and balancing. It could also be used as part of wider scheme of learning focussed on simple mechanical systems and/or the use of mathematics in context.
Activity: Use maths to balance a lever supporting different loads
Learners will make use of the theme of Halloween to learn how a simple lever works and how it can be balanced. They will work through a series of examples to see whether different animals sat at each end of the broomstick will balance it or not. They will then find as many ways of balancing the broomstick as possible, using a given set of creatures, animals and objects with different masses.
Tools/supplies needed:
Pens and pencils
Paper or exercise books
For the extension, investigate the effect of moving animals up and down the broomstick.
The Engineering Context
Engineers need to be able to understand and apply mechanical principles so they can use them when solving problems. For example, how levers work and how they can be used in the design of different mechanical systems.
Engineers need to understand basic mathematical concepts, such as how units of measurement are used, and how these principles are applied in context.
Suggested learning outcomes
This resource combines Science, Design and Technology and Engineering with Mathematics, with the aim that the learners will be able to understand how a simple lever works and understand how to balance a lever with different masses.
Download our activity sheet and other teaching resources
All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs.
The activity sheet includes teachers’ notes, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
You can download our step-by-step instructions as a classroom lesson plan and PowerPoint presentation.
Please do share your highlights with us @IETeducation.
Moving pictures with levers and sliders
Simple sliders and levers can be used to create movement in a picture. This activity teaches participants how levers and sliders work and how they can be used to create an engaging moving picture in a card or a book.
How can I teach levers and sliders?
This could be used in Key Stage 1 as a stand-alone activity or as a KS1 introduction to a design and technology project, such as:
a greetings card - for example, a Christmas card where Santa’s sleigh moves across the sky
a story detailing a journey – for example, inspired by a book they are reading (such as ‘We’re going on a bear hunt’); alternatively, this could be a fictional journey of their own devising
the development of the book could be carried out as a class activity where each table or group of pupils works together to produce one or two pages, contributing to the book produced by the full class. This could also be linked to a story-writing activity in literacy
a moving display - for example, charting the different activities carried out during a day, where the slider or lever indicates the changing time.
On completing either model, pupils could also apply colour to their mechanism or add details to the background.
Tools/resources required
Copies of the moving pictures handout, printed on card, 1 per pupil (plus spares)
Plain card (for the simple slider and lever backgrounds)
Split pin-type metal fasteners (1 per pupil plus spares – see image in presentation)
Scissors
Sticky tape
Glue sticks
Optional
Coloured pencils
Hole punches (ideally single hole punches)
Pre-made models of each mechanism, for demonstration
Download the activity sheets for free!
The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
All activity sheets and supporting resources for this KS1 DT activity are free to download and are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs.
Please do share your learning highlights with us @IETeducation.
Make a shadow puppet for Halloween
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.
Voltage poster
Secondary classroom poster where students can learn about the concept of potential difference through analogy.
Download the single poster or order a full set of posters for free from the IET Education website.
Binary numbers
Use mathematics to explain how devices can be on or off
Through investigating binary numbers and their role in representing electrical devices as on or off, students will see mathematics in action.
Students will get to explore the technology behind the Nintendo Wii and apply this knowledge to design an interactive ‘tag’ game. The activity not only enhances their understanding of communication methods and technologies but also hones their critical thinking and independent investigation skills. This hands-on approach makes maths both tangible and relatable, sparking their interest and demonstrating how integral maths is in everyday life.
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 mathematics.
As part of the ‘Time for a game’ scheme of work, this activity provides an electronics systems context for students to explore infrared technologies. Other activities include Inputs and outputs of design and Electromagnetic spectrum.
Activity: How use maths to identify households that will be most affected by fuel poverty
In this activity students will investigate the use of binary numbers.
Students will work in teams to represent different numbers through standing (for 1) or sitting (for zero). They will brainstorm applications for binary numbers and delve deeper into selected applications. Each step is designed to maximise engagement and learning, making maths a challenge rather than a chore.
Download our worksheet for a detailed lesson plan for teaching students how to use maths to explain how devices can be on or off
The engineering context
Understanding how binary numbers operate in electronic devices lays the foundation for a future career in engineering. Binary numbers play a fundamental role in the field of engineering, particularly in computer and electrical engineering. They form the basis of all digital systems, including computers, mobile phones, and other electronic devices.
Suggested learning outcomes
By the end of this activity, students will have a solid understanding of binary numbers and their applications in electronic devices. They will appreciate the role of maths in technology, improving their problem-solving and critical thinking skills. This activity also fosters teamwork and encourages independent investigation, equipping students with key skills for their academic journey and beyond.
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.
Filtering water
Design and build your own water filtration system
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
This activity gets students to investigate different possible ways of filtering dirty water to improve its cleanliness by designing and building their own water filtration systems. The lesson can be extended with a practical session in which students work in small teams to investigate the salinity of different water samples – see the related extension activity ‘Water Treatment Systems’ within the related activities section below.
The engineering context
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.
Engineers and scientists work to provide us with safe, clean drinking water, with efficient and clean methods for disposing of our waste water and practical drainage solutions.
Suggested learning outcomes
Students will be able to recall the different types of impurities that can contaminate water. As well as this, they’ll know how to describe how water filtration equipment acts in several different ways to produce potable (drinkable) water.
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
Design a wartime vegetable garden (World War II)
In this activity learners will make use of the theme of World War 2 to learn about the ‘Dig for Victory’ campaign and how it was used during the war. They will then design their own garden, considering the types of fruit and vegetables that could be grown within it.
This activity could be used as a main lesson activity to teach about sustainable ingredients and how these can be grown at home. It could also be used as part of wider scheme of learning focussed on food preparation and nutrition, or as part of a wider theme-based project on World War 2. Learners could subsequently choose one of their class designs and plant the garden.
This is one of a series of resources that are designed to allow learners to use the theme of the second world war to develop their knowledge and understanding in Design & Technology and Engineering. This resource focusses on learners designing a ‘Dig for Victory’ garden.
Tools/supplies needed:
Squared paper
Rulers
Pencil/pens
Coloured pencils
Extension
Create a table showing which fruits and vegetables will be seeds and which will be seedlings
Design a poster to encourage your neighbours to ‘Dig for Victory’
The Engineering Context
Food scientists need to understand how different items of food are grown to meet different nutritional needs. For example, growing on a small scale to provide food for a family.
Suggested learning outcomes
This resource combines Design and Technology with Cooking and Nutrition, with the aim that the learners will be able to be able to understand what the ‘Dig for Victory’ campaign was and why it was used during WW2 and be able to design a ‘Dig for Victory’ garden where a household can grow its own food.
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.
You can download our step-by-step instructions below as a classroom lesson plan and PowerPoint presentation.
Please do share your highlights with us @IETeducation.
Make a paper aeroplane launcher (World War II)
Learn about flight and making a successful paper aeroplane. Learners will make a launching mechanism to propel a paper plane further than they could throw it. Finally, they will test their launchers and observe how they work.
This activity could be used as a main lesson activity to teach learners basic marking out and model making skills. It could also be used as part of a wider scheme of learning focussing on the history and development of design, technology and engineering, alongside other flight-themed IET resources.
This is one of a series of resources that are designed to allow learners to use the theme of the second world war to develop their knowledge and understanding in Design & Technology and Engineering. This resource was inspired by the theme of flight. It supports the teaching of design and technology in context by making a paper aeroplane and launching device.
Tools/supplies needed:
Thick paper or card A4
Scissors
Pencil
Ruler
Elastic band
Paper clips
Tape or stapler
Extension
Add decoration such as camouflage to your launcher
What happens if you use a shorter or longer elastic band?
Could you improve this launching device using other materials?
The Engineering Context
Understanding about the history of engineering and design helps engineers to learn from past successes and mistakes. For example, learning about how mechanisms are used to help create enhanced movement, such as the catapult for launching panes from carriers.
Suggested learning outcomes
This resource combines Science, Design and Technology and Engineering, with the aim that the learners will be able to make and test a paper aeroplane and launcher and be able to develop practical skills in manipulating materials skilfully.
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.
You can download our step-by-step instructions below as a classroom lesson plan and PowerPoint presentation.
Please do share your highlights with us @IETeducation.
Make a Christmas star lantern (Secondary)
In this fun and festive graphics project designed for secondary school students, learners focus on the making of a lantern shaped like a Christmas star using folded card and paper.
This activity allows the theme of Christmas to develop their knowledge and skills in Design and Technology and Engineering.
A activity sheet, presentation and templates are available to download for free.
And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation
Create a World War 2 air raid shelter
**Learn about the protection given to people in the Second World War and make a model of an Anderson shelter from card. **
Activity: Create a cardboard model of a World War 2 air raid shelter
This is one of a series of resources that are designed to allow learners to use the theme of the second world war to develop their knowledge and understanding in Design & Technology and Engineering. This resource was inspired by the themes of the World War 2 and Flight. It supports the teaching of design and technology in context by making a model of an Anderson (air raid) shelter using graphic materials.
This activity could be used as a main lesson activity to teach learners about The Second World War. It could also be used as part of a wider scheme of learning focussing on structures or as a focussed practical task focussed on model making.
Tools/supplies needed:
Scissors
Card or cardboard (cereal box)
Glue sticks
Masking tape (optional)
Coloured pens/pencils
Extension
Design a suitable layout for the interior – what would be needed? How would you arrange everything?
Remember a whole family would be inside!
The Engineering Context
Understanding about how to keep people safe inspires engineers to develop new materials, objects and structures. This develops the world we live in and improves the quality of living for all.
Suggested learning outcomes
This resource combines Design and Technology and Engineering with History , with the aim that the learners will be able to know what is meant by an Anderson Shelter and be able to follow instructions and model an idea accurately.
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.
You can download our step-by-step instructions as a classroom lesson plan and PowerPoint presentation.
Please do share your highlights with us @IETeducation.
Make a radio receiver (World War II)
In this activity learners will make use of the theme of World War 2 to learn about how FM radio was used by the Allied forces during the war. They will then assemble a circuit that acts as an FM radio receiver. Finally, they will test their circuit to see how well it works.
This activity could be used as a main lesson activity to teach about how radio and radio systems work, and how to assemble a radio receiver circuit. It could also be used as part of wider scheme of learning focussed on electronic systems and circuits, or as part of a wider theme-based project on World War 2.
This is one of a series of resources that are designed to allow learners to use the theme of the second world war to develop their knowledge and understanding in Design & Technology and Engineering. This resource focusses on learners assembling an FM radio receiver circuit. This is a challenging activity that involves assembling a bought-in kit of parts using soldering irons. It is aimed at Year 6 pupils with good ability in Design & Technology.
Tools/supplies needed:
Solder
FM radio kit including PCB and all required components
Soldering irons
Soldering iron stand and damp sponge
Desk protector board
Safety glasses
Wire cutters
Wire strippers
Extension
Design a casing for the radio circuit
Make a model of your casing in card
Design a carry case for the radio
The Engineering Context
Engineers need to be able to understand how electronic circuits are made and how they work, for example how to construct and investigate the function of a radio circuit.
Engineers need to understand the historical context of different technological inventions, such as radio, and how they were used. This helps them to learn from mistakes made and produce improved products and systems.
Suggested learning outcomes
This resource combines Design and Technology and Engineering, with the aim that the learners will be able to understand how FM radio was used during the second world war, to be able to make and test an FM radio receiver circuit and to be able to use circuit assembly and soldering equipment safely.
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.
You can download our step-by-step instructions below as a classroom lesson plan and PowerPoint presentation.
Please do share your highlights with us @IETeducation.
Electrical safety indoors poster
Primary classroom poster showing useful rules to observe when using electricity in the home.
Download the single poster or order a full set of posters for free from the IET Education website.
Forces poster
Primary classroom poster explaining what forces are and how they act.
Download this single poster or order a full set of posters for free from the IET Education website.
Renewable energy debate
Structured class debate on the location of a new wind farm
There is much debate about the issues created by carbon emissions and how renewable energy sources can help resolve these challenges. Most people agree that renewable energy is a good thing, but many oppose to having wind turbines built near their neighbourhood.
In this role-play activity, participants take on different roles to debate a proposed wind farm. In pairs, students discuss whether their character would be in favour of the proposed wind farm and prepare a two-minute talk to share their case with the group.
Afterwards, divide the larger groups into ‘for’ and ‘against’ and bring together all the individual statements to form a strong, coherent case. Four people are chosen to give two reasons to support their argument.
Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links
This activity has been written with a strong science bias. However, it can easily be taught in design and technology with either a systems and control approach or from a ‘sustainability’ angle, looking at the topic of wind farms and the future of energy production. The ‘sustainability’ perspective will provide an activity that could involve design and technology, geography and citizenship.
Download the activity sheets for free!
All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download and are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs.
Please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation
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.
Backpack of the future (Secondary)
In this KS3 activity, learners will make use of the theme of new and future technologies to design a futuristic backpack.
This KS3 classroom activity could be used as a main lesson activity to teach about designing textile and graphics-based products in context, or the use of new technologies within designs. It could also be used as part of wider scheme of learning focussed on the design process.
We’ve created this design teaching resource activity to support the delivery of key topics within design & technology (D&T) and engineering.
Activity
Learners will be introduced to the purpose of backpacks and how they are used across a wide range of different people. They will then produce a labelled sketch of their design idea to meet the given design brief and criteria. Learners can self or peer-assess their design work suggesting any improvements that could be made.
Brief: Design the dream backpack of the future.
Criteria: The design must include a way of comfortably wearing the backpack on the back, spaces to carry different items, colours that show personality and clever STEM gadgets and special tech that allow it to do incredible things.
Considerations:
Originality: How original is the idea?
Feasibility: How feasible is it that the design can be turned into a real-life prototype?
Creativity: How creative is the idea?
Engineering: What engineering processes have been used in the design?
** Evaluation**
Evaluate how well the design meets the design criteria:
Which points does it meet? How?
Which points does it not meet? Why?
How could you improve your design?
Possible extension
Make a prototype or model of your backpack design
Design a backpack for doctors or paramedics to carry their medical equipment
Design a backpack for your favourite sports star
The Engineering Context
Engineers need to understand how materials and new technologies could be used to produce improved future product designs. For example, how sustainable materials, materials with improved properties or renewable energy could be used in backpack design in the future.
Suggested learning outcomes
This resource combines design and technology with engineering with the aim that the learners will be able to understand the purpose and different uses of backpacks and be able to design the backpack of the future.
Download our activity sheet for free!
All activity sheets and supporting resources 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 a classroom lesson plan and helpful PowerPoint presentation.
Please do share your highlights with us @IETeducation.