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Design, engineering and technology
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Design a sports wheelchair
Design a sports wheelchair for a Marathon race
This activity is focused on the design of racing wheelchairs, but also develops understanding about the use of search engines. It considers the use of different search terms when using internet-based research using search engines and how this affects the outcomes of the search. The main activity involves designing a racing wheelchair considering key aspects to enhance its performance.
The first London Marathon wheelchair race took place in 1983 in which 19 people took part with 17 completing the race. The winner, Gordon Perry, set a winning time of just over 3 hours and 20 minutes. With the advancements in engineering and technology since that date, wheelchair racing has come a long way, and in 2021, Marcel Hug won the London Marathon’s men’s wheelchair race setting a new course record with a time of just over 1 hour and 26 minutes!
Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links
In this activity, learners will use the theme of the London Marathon to respond to a design context, investigate the context on the internet and design a wheelchair for sports use.
This activity could be used as a main lesson activity to develop skills in designing. It could also be used to teach learners about how to search the internet effectively to gain the information that is most applicable to their requirements.
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
Pens, pencils and drawing instruments
Computer access for internet searching
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.
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Design a London marathon costume
Designing a charity costume to wear on the day
The London Marathon takes place every year and is a great opportunity for charities to raise money to support their causes. Can you design an eye-catching costume that runners can wear whilst taking part?
Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links
In this activity, learners will use the theme of the London Marathon to design a costume for participants who are raising money for charity. They will consider how modern and smart fabrics could be used in their design, such as those that wick moisture. They will then use their knowledge to develop a suitable outcome to match the given design brief.
This could be used as a one-off main lesson activity to develop designing skills in Design & Technology and understanding of fabric types in textiles. Alternatively, it could be used as a part of a wider scheme of work to develop designing and graphical skills in Design & Technology.
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
Paper
Pens, pencils and coloured pencils/pens
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.
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Book themed door display
Decorating a classroom door with a book theme
World Book Day is an annual event where people come together to celebrate and promote books and reading.
This resource was inspired by World Book Day and supports the development of literacy by creating a decorated door that will inspire learners to find out more about books. When passing through the door, learners could imagine that they are exiting their normal reality into the reality created in that literature.
The decorated door could be produced by a teacher or teaching assistant; however, here the learners themselves will design and create the displays.
Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links
In this activity learners will identify a favourite book and use this as inspiration to design a decorated door. This links reading in English, the design process in Design & Technology and the use of art skills to produce the design.
This activity could be used as a main lesson activity, to support learners’ engagement in literacy. It could also be used as a learner-led means of generating class/door displays.
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
These will depend upon the designs, but could include:
Paper and/or card, writing and colouring implements, lining paper etc.
Access to an image bank, either printed out or electronic with access to a colour printer.
Scissors and glue sticks.
Sticky tack.
A selection of books for inspiration.
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.
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Make an Egyptian snake bracelet
**Learn about ancient Egypt and discover how to make a snake bracelet inspired by ancient Egyptian jewellery **
This activity for kids will teach students how to make a snake bracelet inspired by ancient Egyptian jewellery. This activity will encourage students to design and create, as well as teach them historical facts about ancient Egypt. Resources and activity sheets are provided to help teachers support their students.
Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links
In this activity learners will make an example of a bracelet inspired by ancient Egyptian jewellery using air drying clay. There are related activities that involve making an alternative form of bracelet and necklaces.
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
Make an Egyptian snake bracelet activity
Make an Egyptian snake bracelet presentation
Tools/resources required
Air drying clay
Sequins
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.
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Marine engineering: How to build a small sail boat
Discover marine engineering for kids and learn how to make a model of a sail boat out of craft sticks
This marine engineering activity for kids will teach students how to make a model of a sailboat out of craft sticks. Students will learn facts about the United Kingdom’s rich history in the field of marine engineering. This includes building sailing ships like the HMS Victory, commanded by Admiral Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar. Resources for teachers and activity sheets are provided to help students further their engineering abilities.
Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links
In this activity learners use of the theme of significant turning points in British history, specifically their achievements in marine engineering, to make a model of a sail boat from craft sticks. They will then test their model to see if it floats.
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
How to build a small sail boat activity
How to build a small sail boat presentation
Tools/resources required
PVA glue
Glue spreader
Craft sticks
Highlighter pens or paints
Material for the sail e.g. paper or card
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.
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Make an Egyptian necklace
**Discover how to make a necklace inspired by ancient Egyptian jewellery **
In this activity for kids, students will learn how to make an item of jewellery inspired by ancient Egyptian jewellery. This activity will teach students historical facts about ancient Egypt and encourage them to design and create. Resources are provided for teachers to help students make a necklace inspired by the jewellery of the ancient Egyptians.
Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links
In this activity learners will make an example of a necklace inspired by ancient Egyptian jewellery from easily sourced materials. There are related activities that involve making an alternative form of necklace and bracelets.
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
• Make an Egyptian necklace activity
• Make an Egyptian necklace presentation
Tools/resources required
Metallic card
Kitchen roll/toilet roll tube x3
Gold/silver/bronze paint
PVA Glue/glue dots
Scissors
Rope/cord pre-cut into three lengths
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.
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Wheel materials
Testing materials to see which material is the most suitable for a wheel
This resource has been developed with the support of the Bugatti Trust Museum and Study Centre and focuses on testing materials to see which material is the most suitable for a wheel using Engineering and Math’s skills.
Ettore Bugatti was the founder and designer of Bugatti sports cars. He was the first designer to use aluminium wheels to decrease the weight of Grand Prix racing cars, designing one of the most successful racing cars in the world.
Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links
In this activity learners will test various discs made from different materials to see how they perform as a wheel.
This activity could be used as a main lesson activity to teach learners about the physical properties of materials or approaches to testing in the context of practical applications. It could also be used as part of an introduction to the practical use of numeracy within engineering.
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
• Discs of material, 140 mm diameter with a 10 mm central hole; for example, steel, aluminium, acrylic, plywood
• Metal bar or pipe, 8-10 mm diameter
• G clamps or vices
• Masking tape
• Weights – various, 250 g to 1 kg
• Stopwatch
• Calculators
• Rulers and writing implements
• Optional: scales to weigh the discs
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.
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Gear ratios
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.
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Make an Erhu - a Chinese 2-stringed instrument
Manufacture a traditional Chinese two-stringed musical instrument called an 'Erhu’
In this activity learners will use the theme of the Chinese and Lunar New Year to learn about and make a Chinese two-stringed musical instrument called an Erhu. They will learn about the purpose of an Erhu and its main parts. They will then use hand tools and equipment to manufacture their own Erhu and test it.
The erhu is a Chinese two-stringed bowed musical instrument. It is used as a solo instrument as well as in small ensembles and large orchestras. It can imitate many natural sounds such as birds and horses.
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.
Tools/resources required
Tin can
Piece of wood
2 x M5 screw, 4 x M5 nuts
Fishing line
Hacksaw/multi-tool
Drill and drill bits
Hot glue gun
Wood saw
Violin bows (if available)
The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
And please do share your learning highlights and final creations with us on social media @IETeducation
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Create Chinese calligraphy
Learning how to write using traditional Chinese handwriting.
In this activity learners will use the theme of the Chinese and Lunar New Year to learn about and make use of Chinese calligraphy. They will learn about different types of ‘script’, what is meant by a Xuan, and how to write numbers using Chinese Regular script.
There are five major script types used today in China: seal script, clerical script, cursive script, running script and standard script. Regular script means the proper script type of Chinese writing and is used by all Chinese for government documents and printed books.
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.
Tools/resources required
Pencils
Paintbrush
Paint
Pot of water to clean brush
The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
And please do share your learning highlights and final creations with us on social media @IETeducation
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Chinese dragon mask
Design and make a Chinese dragon mask.
In this activity learners will use the theme of Chinese New Year to produce a Chinese dragon mask. They will investigate the importance of colour and the dragon to Chinese culture and use this information in their products. They will make two masks, one using an existing template, and another from their own design.
Dragons play an important role in Chinese culture, such as the zodiac, dragon dances, art and the dragon boat festival. The dragon is considered to bring good fortune, harvest and prosperity.
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.
Tools/resources required
Scissors
Pencils
Coloured pens
Glue and sticky tape
The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
And please do share your learning highlights and final creations with us on social media @IETeducation
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Chinese zodiac animal wheel
Make a Chinese zodiac animal wheel to learn about cutting and assembling a simple graphic product.
In this activity learners will learn about cutting and assembling a simple graphic product. Learners will use a template to cut out the circle templates for the Chinese zodiac animal wheel and also learn about the twelve zodiac animals.
In the Chinese zodiac, each year is represented by an animal with a different personality. Why not find out more about this tradition and a Chinese zodiac animal wheel from a template?
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.
Tools/resources required
Thin card
Scissors
Pencils
Sticky tack
Paper fasteners
The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
And please do share your learning highlights and final creations with us on social media @IETeducation
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Fortune cookie
Learn about cutting and folding simple 3D structures by making a fortune cookie from card.
In this activity learners will learn about cutting and folding simple 3D structures within a graphics project. Learners will use a provided template to cut out the circle for the fortune cookie.
The fortune cookie first appeared in 1890 in San Francisco, USA. They have a typical shape and contain a message on paper. It became a Chinese New Year tradition even though fortune cookies only reached China in 1989.
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.
Tools/resources required
Thin, coloured Card
Scissors
Glue sticks
Paper fasteners
Decoration materials
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 learning highlights and final creations with us on social media @IETeducation
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Wearable cockpit
Use modern technologies to enhance flight.
In this activity learners will make use of the theme of the future of flight to design a wearable cockpit that makes use of new and modern technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), which have the potential to completely change how pilots interact with and control their aircraft.
Produce a specification for their design requirements and a mind map of ideas. They will then produce sketches of their initial ideas before producing a completed final design.
All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs.
The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
And please do share your learning highlights and final creations with us on social media @IETeducation
![IETEducation](https://d2w4qhtqw2dbsq.cloudfront.net/profile_live/3108890/small.jpg)
Stop it: Design a system to slow a spaceship descent
Develop a parachute-type system to slow a landing spacecraft.
In this activity learners will make use of the theme of the future of flight to develop a parachute type system that will help a spacecraft to land and stop safely. They will be able to make design decisions contributing to the performance of their solution. They will then test their prototype to see how well it works.
All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs.
The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
And please do share your learning highlights and final creations with us on social media @IETeducation
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Solar powered engine
Making a model of an electric aircraft engine and calculating how long this could power an aircraft using solar energy.
Under the future of flight theme, learners will make a model of an electric aircraft engine that uses solar-powered rechargeable batteries and a motor. They will then test their circuit to see if it works and calculate how long it can run for before it needs to be recharged.
This activity could be used as a main lesson activity to teach about assembling models of circuits and the use of renewable energy. It could also be used as part of a wider scheme of learning to support focussed practical skills or about engineering career opportunities within the aviation sector.
You will need
Solar AA battery charger
2 x rechargeable AA batteries
AA batteries connector/holder
Red and black crocodile clips
Slide or toggle switch
Electric solar motor
Atlas (for extension activity determining potential journey destinations)
All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs.
The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
And please do share your learning highlights and final creations with us on social media @IETeducation
![IETEducation](https://d2w4qhtqw2dbsq.cloudfront.net/profile_live/3108890/small.jpg)
Hydrogen power
How to make hydrogen from water.
In this activity learners will make use of the theme of the future of flight to investigate one of the potential energy sources of the future. They will discuss the problems associated with the use of oil-based fuels and how the use of hydrogen fuels could solve them. They will then produce hydrogen from water and investigate ways to make it work better.
This activity could be used as a main lesson to teach about power supplies and renewable energy within a transport context. It could also be used as part of a wider scheme of learning to teach about sustainability and environmental issues.
All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs.
The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
And please do share your learning highlights and final creations with us on social media @IETeducation
![IETEducation](https://d2w4qhtqw2dbsq.cloudfront.net/profile_live/3108890/small.jpg)
Drop it!
Design a system to drop emergency aid pallets from an aircraft.
In this activity learners will make use of the theme of the future of flight to design a method or system of getting emergency aid from an aircraft to the ground safely.
They will analyse existing methods of achieving this. Then use that information to create sketches of their initial ideas, before producing a developed and completed final design.
All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs.
The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
And please do share your learning highlights and final creations with us on social media @IETeducation
![IETEducation](https://d2w4qhtqw2dbsq.cloudfront.net/profile_live/3108890/small.jpg)
Cabin mood lighting
Use colour-changing LEDs for a mood lighting circuit that can help passengers to relax whilst inside an aircraft cabin.
This activity could be used as a main lesson to teach about soldering, assembling circuits and the function of components or to support learning about colour and how it changes our response to products.
You will need:
Soldering iron, stand and mat/base
Solder
Mood light circuit board
5 V power supply e.g. a USB cable
Slide switch
5 mm colour changing LED
Protective resistor for the LED
All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs.
The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
And please do share your learning highlights and final creations with us on social media @IETeducation
![IETEducation](https://d2w4qhtqw2dbsq.cloudfront.net/profile_live/3108890/small.jpg)
Aircraft chic
Create a presentation suggesting how a company could re-use aircraft or parts of aircraft.
In this activity learners will make use of the theme of the future of flight to create a presentation for the board of the company suggesting how they could re-use aircraft, or parts of aircraft, being retired from their fleet. They will research the different parts of an aircraft and existing products that make use of their old parts. They will use this information to create ideas for their own products.
All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs.
The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
And please do share your learning highlights and final creations with us on social media @IETeducation