Design a sporting outfit that is fit for purpose This unit focuses upon how materials have been specifically engineered in order to provide the requisite qualities and characteristics. It builds on the ‘science behind the material’ scheme of work, developing the students’ understanding of particle states and motion in relation to materials used in engineering/product design. It allows the students to explore a range of engineered and smart materials, identifying why they are ‘fit for purpose’ and how they have been engineered to achieve this purpose. Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links An engaging activity where students will design an outfit that could be worn whilst participating in a sport. With a strong emphasis on developing creative thinking when generating ideas, this activity requires students to be creative when applying knowledge and understanding in science to a design and technology context. 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

Argue for and against different technological products The ‘Who’s the winner’ scheme of work provides students with an opportunity to collect data which they can use as evidence to debate whether people should be encouraged to engage in computer-based sport activities. This activity provides a context for the scheme, by focusing on the wider issues relating to society and health. It helps set the scene for the ‘question of sport’ unit of activities by providing a ‘big picture’ in relation to the connection between society and health and the development of new technologies. Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links An engaging activity which allows students to explore social, ethical, economic and health issues relating to the Nintendo Wii and present their findings in a persuasive, coherent and focussed argument. 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 free 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. And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

What is sustainable energy? What is a carbon footprint? The “Energy Efficiency” curriculum explores the meaning of these terms and encourages students to research what they can do as a school community to save energy and reduce their carbon footprint. The activities use the example of Howe Dell Primary School, which was designed with the principle of sustainability. This provides a framework for students to compare their own school and identify simple energy-saving measures that they can implement to reduce their carbon footprint and save money. By studying Howe Dell Primary School, students can see how cutting-edge technology and science are being used to achieve sustainability goals. Activity overview Show the students the Green School film. Ask them to briefly discuss, as a class, the following questions: What do we mean by “sustainable energy” resources? What types of sustainable energy resources are found in buildings today? What does “carbon footprint” mean, and how is it calculated? What is sustainable energy? Sustainable energy is energy that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It is energy from renewable sources that do not produce greenhouse gases or other pollutants. Sustainable energy is important for a number of reasons. It helps to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, which are a finite resource and produce greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. It also helps to improve air quality and create jobs in the clean energy sector. What is a carbon footprint? A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases emitted by an individual, organisation, event, or product. Greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere, which contributes to climate change. A carbon footprint can be calculated for any activity or entity. There are several different methods for calculating carbon footprints. They all involve measuring the amount of greenhouse gases emitted during a product or service’s production, transportation, use, and disposal. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity, students will be able to explain what “sustainable energy” and “carbon footprint” mean, and they will be able to describe and explain what sustainable technologies could be used in their school. Download the activity sheets 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. Please share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

**In this fun activity for kids, students will construct a miniature catapult capable of firing a marshmallow! ** This exercise will allow students to develop practical skills using a saw and a glue gun and their communication skills as they work as part of a team. This activity could be used in Key Stage 2 as a straightforward design and technology project. It could also be integrated with history and drama. This activity will take approximately 100-180 minutes to complete. Tools/resources required For the marshmallow holders: Copies of the marshmallow catapults holder (handout) printed on card Scissors Glue sticks For the catapult structures: Square section softwood: 8 x 8 x 590 mm, 6 pieces per team plus spares Saws Vices, bench hooks, mitre boxes or similar devices to secure the wood when cutting Glue guns (one per team) 2 elastic bands per team (one small, one large) plus spares For testing: A bag of marshmallows Optional: Copies of the marshmallow catapults structures (handout) printed on paper Sandpaper Baseboards or A3/A4 pieces of cardboard for use as baseboards when using glue guns The engineering context Did you know that the word ‘engineer’ was initially used to describe people responsible for building siege weapons in ancient times? During the sieges of towns and castles, it was customary for skilled experts to construct catapults to breach defences and demoralise the defenders. Among the various catapult types, one was known as the ‘onager’, named after a wild donkey renowned for its fierce kick. The individuals responsible for building this particular catapult were referred to as ‘onager-neers’, a term that eventually evolved into engineers. Catapults need to have a structure which is both strong and stiff. Otherwise, the forces they experience when used can cause them to break. A catapult made from square shapes can be made significantly more rigid and less likely to collapse by adding reinforcement to form triangles. The principle is still widely used in civil engineering for structures ranging from cranes to aircraft structures and the roofs of buildings. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity, students will be able to understand that triangles can be used to reinforce structures, they will be able to safely operate a saw to cut wood, safely use a glue gun, and they will be able to design and make a structure. 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 each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Please share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

Primary classroom poster taking a closer look at the materials used to make each part of a tent and how these ensure the tent can function effectively. Download single poster here or order the full set of posters for free from the IET Education website.

Secondary classroom poster exploring nanotechnology in everyday life. Download the single poster or order a full set of posters for free from the IET Education website.

Secondary classroom poster showing electronics innovations through the ages. Download the single poster or order a full set of posters for free from the IET Education website.

Testing fitness to decide whether people should engage in computer-based sport With such a wide variety of fitness-based computer games available, this engineering activity for kids encourages children to collect data to find out if video games for fitness have the desired effect on fitness levels. Do technology games really enhance fitness? Can you increase your fitness levels by being in front of a gaming computer? Use this activity to help answer these questions while at the same time questioning the validity of data and the difficulties of carrying out a fair test. This lesson involves a series of discussions and ranking activities to develop students understanding of the link between fitness, pulse rate, respiration, and activity. This activity was designed as a science activity but would be an excellent opportunity to be taught in conjunction with PE and mathematics. Students will divide themselves into groups of 4 to 6 and have a discussion to establish what the group understands by the meaning of the word ‘fitness’ and clarify a group definition. Students should consider the following questions: what do we mean by someone’s level of fitness? What is a pulse rate? What is respiration and where does it happen? Why do we need our heart and blood? What is energy and how does it relate to activity? What you will need Projector Whiteboard The engineering context The ‘Who’s the winner’ scheme of work provides students with an opportunity to collect data which they can use as evidence to debate whether people should be encouraged to engage in computer-based sports activities. The investigation highlights how difficult it is to control all variables and therefore carry out a fair test. The students’ evaluation of the investigation will allow them the chance to question the validity of the data, question the size of the data set used and question the time span data needs to be collected over before it can be used to confirm a claim. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this engaging activity students will be able to explain what is meant by fitness, pulse rate and respiration and how they are affected by activity. They will also be able to explain how fitness relates to level of activity. 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. You can stream and download the related films for free by clicking on the appropriate link in the related resources section below. Please share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

Explore the different technologies that engineers have developed to scan the brain The use of different types of signals is hugely important in all areas of healthcare. Signal processing engineers are involved in everything from extracting information from the body’s own electrical and chemical signals to using wireless signals to allow search-and-rescue robot swarms to communicate with each other. Together with related activities, this resource allows students to investigate the wide range of sophisticated imaging technology available in modern hospitals, and to explore the latest ideas in search-and-rescue robotics. Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links This activity encourages students to think about new technologies and how difficult it is to predict their future development and application. The handout ‘Reading minds’ is an introduction on how the engineering field of biomedical signal processing is helping doctors understand the brain and treat patients. 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. The ‘Mind Scanner’ challenge is an extension activity that allows students to do a bit of future gazing. The challenge looks at how future compact mind scanner technology could be used and by whom - considering both ethical and economic issues. Download the free 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. And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

Design an experiment to test advertisement claims on water filtration equipment Water is crucial to human life, but it can also be a killer. Water contaminated with micro-organisms or chemicals, which is then used for drinking or cooking, 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 design an experiment or experiments which will test the claims of companies producing various types of domestic water filtration equipment. It can take 60 - 90 minutes to complete depending on the number of adverts chosen from the ‘Product advertisements’ student handout, and if the related short film is shown as an introduction to the session. You can stream and download this film for free by clicking on the link in the related resources section below. 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

Students build a communications device and develop a protocol to communicate with each other This is an engaging and practical activity in which students will work in small teams to investigate the necessity of developing standards and protocols for communication using a basic electrical circuit. Their objective is to build a basic communication device and establish communication between teams. Each team should receive a copy of the ‘Building the Communicator’ handout and proceed to assemble their circuits. This activity is a great way to introduce students to the history and practical use of telecommunication while also engaging their creativity and problem-solving skills. How long will this activity take? This activity will take approximately 45 minutes to complete. Tools/resources required Per team: One non-latching push to make switch Connecting leads One light bulb (3V approx) and holder One 3V power supply (best to use cells so that bulbs do not blow) Supply of crocodile clips The engineering context Telemedicine engineers are professionals who specialise in designing, developing, and implementing technological solutions for remote medical care. They utilise their expertise in engineering, software development, and medical equipment to create systems that enable patients to receive medical care remotely. Telemedicine engineers also work closely with healthcare providers to understand their needs and develop solutions that address their challenges. Telemedicine engineers play a critical role in expanding access to healthcare for patients in remote areas. They contribute to the development of cutting-edge technology that allows medical practitioners to deliver high-quality care to patients from a distance. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity students will be able to build a simple electrical circuit, design a code for easy transmission of messages between two teams and explain why global protocols are required. 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

Primary classroom poster highlighting the basic components and symbols in a circuit. Download the single poster or order a full set of posters for free from the IET Education website.

This is one of a series of resources to support the use of the BBC micro:bit in Design and Technology lessons to create a working prototype of a step counter. Walking is an excellent form of exercise that most people can take part in. The average person walks 3000-4000 steps per day. The National Health Service in the UK has set a challenge for each person to walk 10,000 steps per day. This can be counted using a step counter or stepometer. In this unit of learning, learners will integrate a BBC micro:bit based programmable system into a complete and commercially viable step counter product, that will aid people taking part in this challenge. Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links In this activity, learners will integrate a BBC micro:bit based programmable system into a working product prototype. 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. 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

Testing the operation of pulley systems and calculating their mechanical advantage This GCSE maths resource looks at how pulleys work and is fully-curriculum linked. Download the resource for free to teach KS4 pulleys to your class. What are the advantages of a pulley system? Mechanical systems allow us to perform tasks that would otherwise be very difficult, enabling us to lift objects that would otherwise be far too heavy to move. For example, cranes on building sites that move heavy materials. This GCSE mathematics resource focuses on testing pulley systems and calculating their mechanical advantage. Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links An engaging activity in which students will will test and calculate the mechanical advantage of three different examples of simple pulley systems designed to lift loads. It will build knowledge and understanding of how pulley systems work, along with improving related numeracy skills. 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

A set of printable resources and guidance notes giving teachers and technicians the basic ingredients to run their very own IET Faraday® Challenge Day. The challenge Students work in teams to design and make a prototype of a simple device, that will allow homeowners to remove water from their homes, during periods of flooding. About IET Faraday® Challenge Days IET Faraday® Challenge Days are designed for six teams of six students (36 students in total) aged 12-13 years (year 8, and equivalent) and is carried out over one school day. A cross-curricular Science, Design and Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) activity day that encourages the development of students’ problem solving, team working and communication skills. Students achieve a better understanding of what engineering is and the science, maths and technology elements within engineering, leading to increased engagement in science or technology lessons afterwards. The challenge has been specifically designed to give students the opportunity to be creative in their solutions and to succeed, independent of their level of ability. This activity is therefore suitable for a range of different ability levels. All online resources are free to download, and the student booklet and PowerPoint presentation are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. You can stream and download the related films for free by clicking on the link in the related resources section. Please share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation To view the additional supporting videos, please visit the IET Education website.

This activity introduces students to engineering design processes The lesson gives learners an in-depth understanding of some commonly used engineering materials and how they are currently developed for use in industry. The activity is inspired by the casting process used to make the D3O smart material into a ‘usable’ form. This links to industrial practices such as quality control, standardisation, and casting manufacture. It is designed to challenge the students by requiring them to apply the knowledge and understanding of engineering materials through a ‘batch’ production experience. 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). Activity: Understanding the concept of modular design and the casting process The lesson includes two short tasks to support students’ understanding of the application of the casting process and the concept of modular (repeat) design. Firstly, students will view the Cast Products presentation for an introduction to casting as a manufacturing method. By looking at each of the products that have been casted students will explore the advantages of casting (e.g., creating complex shapes, standardisation, batch production, fine detail quality, etc). Next, students will view the Modular Products presentation to identify the common characteristics of these products. The engineering context Engineers not only need to consider the properties of smart materials, they also need to think about the best way to use these materials within manufacturing so that they can be mass produced in an economical way. The casting process offers a way to use smart materials like D30 to mass-produce all sorts of goods cost-effectively. The material is particularly advantageous because of its shock absorption properties and can be used for the creation of snowboards and other sporting goods, along with safety gear such as helmets and limb protectors. It can even be used with phones and other devices that benefit from being built with impact protection in mind. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of the lesson students will know how to describe the characteristics of a cast product. They’ll also be able to explain why a designer may use a repeating module. 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 (including video clips), and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. Download our classroom lesson plan and presentation below. Please do share your highlights with us @IETeducation.

This starter activity provides a quick, engaging introduction to a lesson focusing on the link between water pollution and health by considering the role of engineers in providing us with healthy water supplies Water is crucial to human life, but it can also be a killer. Water contaminated with micro-organisms or chemicals, which if then used for drinking or cooking, 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. The lesson therefore encourages students to think about the role of engineers in providing us with healthy water supplies and waste-water disposal systems. The activity also asks students to think more broadly about how engineers play a role in society, at times saving our lives. This is one of a set of resources developed to aid the teaching of the secondary national curriculum, particularly KS3, supporting the teaching in science, geography and engineering. Activity: Considering the role of engineers in providing us with healthy water supplies Students will watch our Safe drinking water film, and discuss how engineers play a role in saving peoples lives. Following this, students can work through our Running water handout, which provides information about the problems associated with water supplies and water pollution and how engineers work to solve these problems so that we can access clean water. Finally, students can take our quiz on the importance of water to human life. Download our activity overview for a detailed lesson plan for teaching students about design materials. The engineering context To help ensure that we can access clean water freely, engineers can develop filtration systems to remove impurities, build water networks for distribution, and use chemical treatments to purify waste. They can also make reservoirs to make sure that there’s a reliable water supply as well as build wastewater treatment systems protect the environment. In areas with limited freshwater, engineers even design desalination plants to transform seawater into drinking water. Suggested learning outcomes At the end of this lesson students will be aware that clean water supplies and effective methods of waste-water disposal are essential for human health. They’ll also understand some of the methods that engineers create and use to make water safe. Download our activity sheet and related teaching resources for free The activity sheet includes teachers’ notes, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download (including video 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.

Using the casting process to make a batch of a product In this activity students will use the casting process to create a small batch of identical products. The lesson is part of a series of resources designed to challenge students by requiring them to apply the knowledge and understanding of engineering materials through a ‘batch’ production experience. It followed on from our CAD design project . Also included in the series are Engineering design processes and Investigating cast products. It’s one of a set of resources developed to aid the teaching of the secondary national curriculum, particularly KS3, supporting the teaching in engineering and design and technology (D&T). Activity: Using the casting process to make a batch of a product In this activity, students will use a prepared mould to create a small batch of identical products through a casting process. Students will mix the casting material (like plaster of Paris), pour it into the moulds, and allow the products to dry. Once complete, they will then carefully remove the products from the moulds. Students will need to record the dimensions of each product to identify any variations and explain why these might have occurred… Download our activity overview for a detailed lesson plan on batch production. The engineering context Casting is a commonly used by engineers as a form of batch production, which is way of manufacturing many different forms of goods in an efficient way on a large-scale offering benefit such as mass production and quality control. Suggested learning outcomes This lesson will teach students how to carry out a basic batch manufacture of a cast product. At the end of the activity, students will be able to describe the advantages of batch production. Download our activity sheet and other teaching resources The activity sheet includes teachers’ notes, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. Please do share your highlights with us @IETeducation.

Promoting a product to a particular target user group This marketing lesson revolves around designing, branding, and marketing a new Nintendo Wii product. Students will be tasked with promoting a product to a particular user group, honing in on teamwork, creativity, and entrepreneurial skills. Make your pitch’ will provide students with an opportunity to explore and understand their chosen user group in detail through the analysis of a series of audio pitches. This is one of a set of resources developed to aid the class teaching of the secondary national curriculum, particularly KS3. It has been designed to support the delivery of key topics within design and technology (DT). Activity: Promoting a product to a particular target user group The activity consists of defining what a pitch is and analysing three radio adverts (pitches) attached in the Audio Radio Pitch (Presentation). The class will identify the unique selling point of the product, the specific user group targeted, and whether they believe the advert is successful, giving reasons for their opinion. Before proceeding to slide 3 of presentation, students will be asked, “What makes an effective pitch?” They will compile a list based on their evaluations of the three radio audio clips. Slide 2 will then be shown for comparison. The engineering context From designing a new video game console or inventing an innovative piece of tech, this activity will show students how understanding user needs and preferences is crucial in creating products that people want to buy. This lesson will also highlight the importance of effective communication in the form of product pitches. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this lesson, students should be able to explain why it is crucial to understand what a user wants when designing and marketing a product. They should also be able to define what a ‘pitch’ is and design a ‘pitch’ aimed at a specific user group or client. This understanding will empower them not only to create effective marketing strategies but also to appreciate the importance of user-focused design in product development. 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 the video), and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your class’s and your schools’ needs. Please do share your highlights with us @IETeducation.

Form a constructive argument in a debate Virtual reality versus real-world sports tasks participants to form a constructive argument in a debate based on the question: ‘which is more important to our society - the development of the Nintendo Wii or encouraging more people to take up sport?’ Students research and evaluate the social, ethical, economic and health issues relating to simulation sports versus real-world sports. Form arguments for and against this topic and present the findings in a persuasive, coherent and focused argument. Tools/resources required Projector/Whiteboard Access to the internet for the research activity, or copies of appropriate pre-printed resources 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. 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 do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation