This is a craft activity that all children can enjoy. Using an empty jam jar, children can make a snow globe with biodegradable glitter and a few other items from around the home or classroom. Our step-by-step guide is simple to follow, making it a great STEM project for children. It is an enjoyable hands-on activity promoting creativity and stimulating imagination. It can be used as a craft project for the home or as a main lesson activity in school for the festive season. As well as teaching design creativity, there are potential curriculum links with the Art department and STEAM-based activities. What you will need Clean jam jar or mason jar (no labels) with a tightly fitting lid Biodegradable glitter Christmas decoration or festive ornament – make sure it’s waterproof and small enough to fit in the jar Water Glue gun and glue stick (or waterproof glue – a tube of clear, silicone sealant will do) Glycerine or light corn syrup The engineering context Building a snow globe is a hands-on learning experience that combines art and science. It’s not only a fun winter craft activity for children, but it can also help to develop their STEM skills. While making a snow globe, children will develop their practical skills and learn about science and engineering concepts such as viscosity. Suggested outcomes This STEM craft activity will teach creativity and problem-solving skills. Children can experiment with different arrangements of objects, types of jar, and glitter distribution to create their desired scene. This process encourages them to think critically, make aesthetic choices, and find solutions if things don’t go as planned. It’s also an opportunity for them to express their individuality and explore their artistic side. The use of biodegradable glitter can also teach learners about sustainability and environmental issues. The activity sheets are available to download 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. You can download our step-by-step instructions below as either a classroom lesson plan or PowerPoint presentation. You can also watch our video tutorial to find out how to make a snow globe. If you’re up for an extra activity, try our number fun activity as well. And please do share your handmade snow globes with us on social media on Facebook and Twitter using our #SantaLovesSTEM hashtag. You can also send them via email to IETEducation@theiet.org to be featured in our online gallery.

Secondary classroom poster where your students can find out about the equations and formulae needed for D&T. Download the single poster or order the full set of posters for free from the IET Education website.

The new materials changing the way we live Discover and explore the new materials changing the way we live with our Smart and modern materials activity. The development of new materials with incredible properties are changing the way we live: from LCD TVs to super light airliners, these materials have quickly found their way into pretty much all of the modern technology around us. Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links In this practical lesson, students conduct different tests on a selection of materials and identify each one from its properties. The tests include Eureka cans, electrical circuits, and other interesting investigations to test the density, hardness, magnetic and conductive properties of materials. This activity can be tailored to include tests that best investigate the properties of the materials you have available. 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 Tools/resources required Resources required for class: Samples of 8 to10 different materials, with more than one sample of each if possible. All the samples should be able to fit in the available eureka cans Access to accurate weighing scales Safety glasses. Resources required per team: HB pencil, copper coin*, knife**, iron nail, small steel file Eureka can and an accurate measuring cylinder A magnet Powerpack/battery pack, 3 leads, light bulb and holder, crocodile clips A pad of sticky notes. The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. To watch the ‘Nature reinvented’ video, please visit IET Education website.

Explore energy transfer and energy efficiency using wind turbines The concept of energy transfer is brought to life in this activity, showing students how the kinetic energy of wind can be harnessed to power homes and businesses. Windmills and wind turbines are based upon the principle of trying to create a shape where air flow causes the maximum possible change in kinetic energy. The hands-on nature of this task, which involves modifying a basic wind turbine to generate electricity, will appeal to students’ curiosity and creativity. This is one of a set of resources developed to support the teaching of the secondary national curriculum, particularly KS3. It has been designed to support the delivery of key topics within science and design and technology (DT). Tools/resources needed Electric fans Turbines at 5 angles (Most blades can be bought as kits, or partial kits can be purchased where students can build their own blades) Wires Rulers Crocodile clips Voltmeter Ammeter or multimeter Model Generator Activity: Explore energy transfer and energy efficiency using wind turbines This activity gives students the opportunity to explore how the energy efficiency of turbines is directly affected by their design (shape and angle, which can be determined through the study of aerodynamics). The engineering context This activity provides a real-world context, introducing students to the principles of aerodynamics and energy efficiency in engineering design. As they explore how the shape and angle of turbine blades affect energy conversion, they’re learning vital principles relevant to fields such as renewable energy engineering, mechanical engineering, and environmental engineering. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity, students should be able to describe how energy is transferred using turbines and explain the importance of efficiency in devices. They will have designed an investigation to determine the relationship between efficiency and turbine design (shape and angle). Students will also have developed critical thinking skills as they control variables and analyse results to improve accuracy. In addition, they’ll gain a broader understanding of renewable energy resources, highlighting the need to develop alternative ways to generate electricity. Download our activity sheet and related teaching resources The activity sheet includes teachers’ notes, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. Please do share your highlights with us @IETeducation.

How to make a toy parachute activity. In this Christmas STEM activity, kids will use items found at home to make two parachutes and test which one is faster. They will learn about gravity, air resistance and more. Download the STEM activity sheet for free. If you’re up for an extra activity, help our present find its way back to Santa’s sleigh through the maze. And please do share your learning highlights and final creations with us on social media @IETeducation #SantaLovesSTEM or send them via email to IETEducation@theiet.org to be featured in our online gallery.

Learn about simple mechanisms and make an animal that moves in this fun and creative activity for kids! Students will use templates to help them cut out the parts for a DIY cardboard animal, and they will make the parts of a simple mechanism using cams and linkages, which will be attached to a round shaft made from a skewer; This will allow the legs of the animal to move up and down slowly. This activity could be used as a main lesson activity to teach learners about simple mechanisms and how the direction of motion can change from rotary to reciprocating. This is one of a series of free STEM resources designed to support the delivery of key topics within science and design and technology, which could be carried out individually or in pairs. The teacher presentation could be left on the whiteboard as a supporting guide as they do this. Learners may need assistance cutting the cardboard to ensure the cuts are accurate. As an optional extension activity, learners could add their own designs to their animal’s body and legs. Keeping the white paper template stuck to the legs allows them to be decorated as desired. Tools/resources required Card tubes Wooden skewers Glue sticks/ glue sticky tack Cardboard Brass split pin fasteners The engineering context Mechanisms are used in almost every moving product, ranging from trains and cars to washing machines and door handles that must be pushed down to open, see-saws and scissors. They either transmit motion or change it in some way, increasing or decreasing its strength, quality, or type. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity, students will be able to understand that a linkage and cam can create movement, they will be able to make an amazing animal from graphics materials, and they will be able to use cams and linkage to make the legs move on the amazing animal. Download the Animal graphics project activity sheet for free! All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Please share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation.

Design an emoji that reflects the festive season in this fun graphics activity In this fun and creative activity, learners will use the theme of the festive season to design an emoji. They will think about what the festive season means to them and list their favourite things about this time of year. They will then use this list to sketch initial ideas for their own emoji before producing a final design that could be used on a phone or computer. This is one of a series of free STEM resources designed to allow learners to use the theme of the Christmas period to develop their knowledge and skills in Design and Technology, and Engineering. This activity could be used as a main lesson activity to teach about sketching skills, following a brief and the use of modern communications technologies. It could also be used as part of a wider scheme of learning focusing on the design process or as a one-off transition activity. Resources required A round coin (e.g. two pence or ten pence) A4 or A3 paper Graph paper (or sheet from the resource) Pencils, coloured pencils, paints and/or felt tip pens A fine-liner pen for detailing on sketches A pair of compasses or round object to draw large circles (e.g. a drinking cup or mug) The engineering context The development of ideas is fundamental to the work of the engineer working to solve a problem. To be able to work to a brief is the start of all engineering problem-solving activities. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity, students will know the purpose of emojis, they will be able to understand how to design an emoji using a given theme, and they will be able to sketch with confidence! 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 U.K. nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Oh ho ho, and please do share your emojis with us @IETeducation! #SantaLovesSTEM.

Use a net to make a booklet, adding funny cracker jokes and designs to the pages where needed in this festive activity for kids. This activity could be a main lesson to teach learners how to use nets to make useable objects. It could also be used as one of several activities within a wider scheme of learning focusing on understanding the use of nets in maths. The testing of the jokes could be linked with learning in English, as they involve writing and oral expression of the cracker jokes. This is one of a series of free STEM resources designed to allow learners to use Christmas themes to support the teaching of the primary National Curriculum. They are designed to support the delivery of key topics within maths and design and technology. This resource focuses on the use of a net to make a small booklet of funny cracker jokes, and these could be used as an alternative to the corny jokes often found in Christmas crackers! Nets are important as they allow 3D objects to be made when folded. Making the booklet: Step 1 – Download the That’s a Cracker activity sheet. Identify the solid and dotted cutting lines. Step 2 – Add the Christmas jokes. Step 3 – ⚠ Safely cut out the booklet net using scissors. Steps 4a and 4b – Fold the booklet as directed. Step 5 – Now test out the jokes on friends! As an optional extension activity, students could create and add their own designs and jokes to the booklet pages. How long will this activity take? This activity will take approximately 40-60 minutes to complete. The engineering context Engineers must regularly use mathematics knowledge and skills as part of their everyday job. They use nets to make scale models of buildings and other structures, as well as packaging for other products. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity, students will know that graphics products can be made from nets, they will be able to add text to a graphic product, and they will be able to make a booklet from a net. Download all the Christmas cracker jokes activity sheets for free! All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Oh ho ho, and please do share your classroom highlights with us @IETeducation! #SantaLovesSTEM.

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

Secondary classroom poster where your students can find out about cybersecurity and how it affects the world we live in. Download the single poster or order a full set of posters for free from the IET Education website.

Get creative with crafts this Christmas and build a beautiful mobile inspired by the winter holidays A versatile lesson for teaching about constructing robust structures and the principles of balance. It can be incorporated into a broader curriculum on design and technology, emphasising making and assembly skills. Learners will be encouraged to collect a variety of natural materials that they can use to craft a Christmas mobile. This homemade mobile will make a great sustainable Christmas decoration for the home or classroom. This is one of a series of free STEM resources designed to allow students to use the theme of the Christmas period to develop their knowledge and skills in Design and Technology, and Engineering. The IET Education resource: Homemade Christmas decoration can be combined with this activity to create one of the hanging ornaments. The time and resources required for this activity will vary depending on the types and quantities of decorations. We recommend using one of the following suggestions to make your mobile: Fir/pine cones - Cones that have been collected previously and allowed to dry out are the best. They take paint well if dry and can look effective with decoration. Keep the hanging loops long. Small fir trees - These are simple to construct. Clay star - This will be a heavy element for the mobile. The impact of different weights on the mobile should be considered. Bolts do not have to be used if not available. Pipe cleaner star - Learners may need additional assistance with measuring the length of the pipe cleaner to split it into five. Using natural materials will give a unique, designer effect, but shop-bought decorations can be mixed in if time is short. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity, students will be able to understand what makes a structure strong, they will be able to understand the concept of balancing, and they will be able to make a strong, well-balanced and visually attractive Christmas mobile. All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Oh ho ho, and please do share your inspiring creative crafts with us @IETeducation! #SantaLovesSTEM. https://education.theiet.org/primary/teaching-resources/create-your-own-winter-mobile/

In this Christmas STEM activity for kids, students will test a simple series electrical circuit in an attempt to make Rudolph’s nose light up. This experiment will encourage students to have fun with electronics and understand circuits. What equipment will you need? Rudolph template, Stiff piece of card the same size as the template, Block of wood, 2 crocodile leads, 1.5V or D size battery, A 2.5 bulb with holder, Sticky tape, Blu-tac How to do it Step 1 Please print off the Rudolph template and stick it onto a stiff piece of card. Step 2 Make a hole (large enough to put the bulb through) where the nose would be, keeping the bulb holder at the back. Tape the bulb holder to the cardboard to hold it in place. You can paint the bulb red with a felt tip pen or add some red acetate. Sweet wrappers work well for this! Step 3 Stick the block of wood to the bottom of the card so that the Rudolph template stands up. Step 4 Attach the crocodile leads to the metal part on each side of the bulb holder. Stick the battery down on top of the piece of wood at the back with a piece of Blu-tac. You are now ready. The science behind the experiment Electricity will only flow when there is a power source within a complete circuit of conductive material with no breaks. There is no need, at this stage, to explain what electricity is or how it works, but children can begin thinking about what electricity does. Encourage the children to look around the room to find other things which work on electricity. They could cut out pictures from magazines of things which work on electricity and then sort them into those which work on mains electricity and those which work on battery power. Download the Light up Rudolph’s nose activity sheet for free! All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Oh ho ho, and please do share your experiment highlights with us @IETeducation! #SantaLovesSTEM.

In this fun science activity for kids, students will make play dough that can insulate or conduct electricity. Make colourful dough with salt and another with sugar to find out which one will work! Through this process they will learn about conductors and insulators. Students will also learn about ionic bonding. This is a resource that encourages learners to have fun with science. An activity sheet is available to download for free. We have also included a bonus wordsearch using terminology from the activity to promote sticky learning. Oh ho ho, and please do share your experiment highlights with us @IETeducation! #SantaLovesSTEM

Turning a book into an artistic present! In this fun activity designed for secondary school students, learners will be given the opportunity to make folded book art by manipulating paper products. This free resource allows learners to use Christmas themes to develop their knowledge and skills in Design and Technology and Engineering. A free activity sheet is available to download. And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

Use recycled materials to produce a basket/bag that can be used to store small items or presents for Christmas. In this fun activity for Key Stage 2, students will develop their knowledge and understanding of the weaving process and how it can be applied to make products. This is a challenging exercise that requires dexterity. This activity could be used as a main lesson activity to teach about the skills and techniques associated with making textile products using weaving. It could also be used as part of a wider scheme of learning focusing on environmental issues within design and technology. This is one of a series of free STEM resources designed to allow learners to use the theme of the festive season to develop their knowledge and skills in Design and Technology, and Engineering. Recycling helps to reduce the number of new materials we need to make products. Your challenge is to use recycled paper to make a great-looking and strong woven storage basket for Christmas. Download our free activity sheet for a step-by-step guide on how to make your own woven bag! Tools/resources required Recycled paper Scissors PVA glue Skewer or dowel Empty card box The engineering context Engineers must understand the environmental impact of the designs they produce and how their carbon footprint can be reduced, for example, by using recycled or reused materials more. Structural engineers must understand how to utilise weaker materials to create more robust structures, such as using rope to make bridges. Weaving is an essential skill for textile designers and engineers. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity, students will be able to apply the process of weaving to create a basket, understand how strong structures can be created from weaker materials, and understand the benefits of using recycled materials to make products. Download the Make a woven bag activity sheet for free! All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Oh ho ho, and please share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation.

A challenge to protect an egg from breaking after it is dropped from height. In this fun STEM egg drop challenge students will use, make, and assemble a protective structure to save an egg from breaking. This activity is aimed at secondary school students and could be used as a main lesson activity, to teach learners about the strength of structural forms. It could also be used as one of several activities within a wider scheme of learning focusing on gravity. The Egg Drop Challenge is a popular and versatile Easter STEM challenge. It is an exciting and engaging way for children to develop their creative thinking and problem-solving skills. This STEM challenge is one of a series of free resources designed to allow learners to use Easter themes to develop their knowledge and skills in Design and Technology and Engineering. This resource focuses on the egg drop challenge. Sheets of paper are used to make a protective structure to prevent an egg being broken when dropped from height. Once the egg protection frame has been built learners will test their structures by dropping the egg first from 0.5m, then 1m. If your egg survives this fall, how high do you think an egg can be dropped from without breaking? How could you improve your design to make it more effective? If using raw eggs, it is recommended that plastic covering is used on the floor and suitable hand washing facilities are available. One option is to use boiled eggs as these will reduce the mess but still crack on impact. This activity will take approximately 60-90 minutes. Tools/resources required Projector/whiteboard Raw eggs/Boiled eggs Scissors Glue sticks Paper Tissue paper Sticky tape String Plastic bags The engineering context Understanding how structures are used to protect products is an important part of the new GCSE courses in Design and Technology and Engineering. Structures are used to protect many products, ranging from eggs to supplies dropped from aircraft during emergencies. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this exercise students will know that gravity is a pulling force and they will be able to make a structure to protect an egg dropped from a height. Download the free Egg Drop Challenge activity sheets, including a bonus crossword using the words used in the activity to enhance learning. 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.

Get kids thinking about 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional shapes, as well as faces, edges and vertices. In this easy activity we are going to make paper cone Christmas trees which are fun to decorate and make a great centrepiece for any Christmas table. Download the STEM activity sheet below for free, And if you’re up for an extra activity, try our wordsearch where you look for words used in the experiment to increase sticky learning. Please do share your learning highlights and final creations with us on social media @IETeducation #SantaLovesSTEM or send them via email to IETEducation@theiet.org to be featured in our online gallery.

Discuss the work of medical engineers and the use of smart materials for prosthetics The development of new materials with incredible properties is changing the way we live. From LCD TVs to super light airliners, these materials have quickly found their way into pretty much all of the modern technology around us. One area where modern materials have made a huge impact is in the development of prosthetic devices. Some of these devices are beginning to outperform ‘natural’ body parts. Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links This activity is a quick, engaging introduction to a lesson looking at the properties of modern materials. With the help of a series of short videos ‘Nature Reinvented’, ‘Prosthetic design’ and ‘Bionic Limbs’, students make the connection between materials, prosthetics and the way in which engineers work. The activity sheet includes teachers’ 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

Through this fun and engaging STEM activity, learners will understand how aerodynamic and streamlined shapes are used in our day to day lives and the design, technology, and engineering principles behind them. This is a free resource aimed at secondary school children. Students will have the opportunity to learn about aerodynamic forces and aerodynamic design and how these design principles enhance speed and efficiency in a product. A brilliant engineering activity for kids. Students will start to understand the basic principles of aerodynamics by looking at familiar products that have been designed with ‘speed’ in mind and through identifying features common to these products. Later, they could start to explore the requirements of aerodynamic design through testing simple shapes in a wind tunnel and through water. The activity focuses on students acquiring an understanding of aerodynamics through testing, experimenting, and developing. This activity is designed to be taught through science and design and technology simultaneously, as a cross-curricular project. However, it can also be tackled independently from each subject. What do the images have in common? Why have they been designed in that shape? Could they be split into themed groups? As an extension students could be asked to consider the social/economic and technological benefits (and drawbacks) of each example. This will give some reasoning behind the development of the final design and illustrate how there are many different factors affecting the design. The engineering context Aerodynamics refers to the way air moves around things. Anything that moves through the air reacts to aerodynamics. Aerodynamics acts on aeroplanes, rockets, kites and even cars! Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity students will be able to identify areas where aerodynamics is used in real life and they will be able to describe the social/economic and technological effect of the work. 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 UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Please share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

Building a bridge from spaghetti Working in teams, participants have 45 minutes and 15 pieces of spaghetti to build a bridge. How to make a bridge? Teamwork with spaghetti! After this time, the structures are put to the test to see which is the strongest by hanging an increasing load from each bridge until it fails. Bridges are structures that are designed to support a load, such as the cars and lorries that need to cross above a river. The structure of a bridge has a significant affect upon its strength and its stiffness. A bridge made from square shapes can be made significantly more rigid and less likely to collapse by adding reinforcement to form triangles. This principle is widely used in civil engineering. Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links This activity could be used in Key Stage 2 as a stand-alone design and technology or maths activity, as a focused task to develop skills in the use of the glue gun, or as part of a structures project investigating bridges. This hands-on STEM playing and learning resource is science and maths for KS2. Tools/resources required 1-2 packets of spaghetti Glue guns (one per team) Optional: Baseboards or A3/A4 pieces of cardboard for use as baseboards when using glue guns 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. And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation