Using the circumference formula and estimation to design an efficient revolving door This lesson tasks students with designing a functional and efficient revolving door. It tests practical maths skills such as estimation and calculating the circumference of a circle, while also challenging students with a fun design activity. It’s one of a set of resources developed to aid the teaching of the secondary national curriculum, particularly KS3, supporting the teaching in maths. Activity: Using the circumference formula and estimation to design an efficient revolving door In this activity students will examine the design of revolving doors for maximum efficiency both in terms of reducing space and minimising heat loss. They’ll firstly be tasked with calculating the idea entrance/exit arc length based on the door’s diameter. They’ll then be asked to estimate how many people can fit into each door section and how this will impact getting 200 people in and out of the building as the arrive and leave for work. The GeoGebra file Revolving doors allows teachers to demonstrate the problem and check the solution to the first task. Download our activity overview and Revolving door presentation for a detailed lesson plan on the maths behind designing a revolving door. The engineering context Revolving doors are energy efficient as they prevent drafts (via acting as an airlock), thus preventing increases in the heating or cooling required for the building. At the same time, revolving doors allow large numbers of people to pass in and out. As such, architects and engineers need to apply mathematics to their designs, which can help to determine how they will work in practice and whether or not they’re fit for purpose. Suggested learning outcomes Students will learn how mathematical concepts like circumference and arc length are applied to solving real-world design problems. 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. Download our classroom lesson plan and presentation for free! Please do share your highlights with us @IETeducation.

IET Faraday® DIY Challenge Day A set of printable resources and guidance notes giving teachers and technicians the basic ingredients to run their very own IET Faraday® DIY Challenge Day. This cross-curricular activity day brings science, design and technology, engineering and maths (STEM) together in an engaging way. The context of the challenge Ease of communication is part of our life, we pick up the phone, turn on the radio, TV or internet to get news and information. Wifi networks work by radio signals. Your phone, TV and radio signals are transmitted by masts we hardly notice. But when all of these are knocked out by natural events how do we communicate? Students are the engineer rescue team based in the town of Alpha which has been relatively unaffected by the extreme weather. As the engineer rescue team in town Alpha, students will design and build a prototype device that will need to send coded messages to town Beta, and create a code to send a message from Alpha across the mountains for decoding in Beta. There is little time to lose, with a (simulated) helicopter arriving in a matter of hours to transport half of the rescue team to town Beta to set up the system for testing. Designed for six teams of six students (36 students in total) aged 12 – 13 years (year 8, and equivalent), the challenge encourages the development of students’ problem solving, team working and communication skills. This activity day can be tailored to the needs of your school and your students by adapting the PowerPoint presentation and the editable student booklet. What’s included? The complete set of downloadable materials includes: Teachers pack A list of the practical materials needed, presenters’ notes highlighting key areas and reinforcing key themes throughout the day, some handy hints on how to deliver the day… plus printable Faradays currency and student certificates. Student booklet Available as an editable MSWord document to allow the booklet to be adapted to meets the needs of your students and your school. Introductory PowerPoint presentation A step-by-step guide for your students throughout the day, with supporting notes for the delivery of the presentation, including links to the related film clips. **Remember, it’s all free! ** All online resources (including film clips!) 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. If you are running one of our IET Faraday® DIY Challenge Day please do share your experience with us via our feedback form and case study template here. If you are unfamiliar with how to run a IET Faraday® DIY Challenge Day have a look at our 6 start-up videos here where we take you through the days, how they should run and what they entail. And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

Understanding fractions through a pizza cutter approach Fractions are an important concept in mathematics, and what better way to understand them than by slicing up a delicious pizza? Through hands-on exploration, you will discover that fractions are not just numbers on a page but a real-life concept we encounter daily. By dividing our pizza into slices, we will learn how to represent fractions visually and understand their relationship to the whole pizza. Activity This activity is one of a set of free STEM resources developed to support the teaching of the primary national curriculum and the delivery of key topics within maths and science. This fun maths game could be used as a starter or main activity to introduce fractions and can be developed further with other objects and a combination of halves and quarters. Students could complete this activity either as individual learners or as table groupings. It introduces learners to fractions, i.e. a half and a quarter. The presentation slides highlight the national curriculum requirements, with the learners being able to understand what a half and quarter are by dividing a recognised shape. Download our free, printable pizza fractions handout to begin. Actual pizzas could be used as an alternative to the handouts. Appropriate food hygiene and handling precautions would need to be applied. The engineering context Understanding fractions helps engineers solve many problems in a wide range of specialisms. For example, how to divide materials so people can carry equal loads. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity, students will be able to understand that a half and quarter are ‘fractions of’ a whole object, they will recognise, find and name a half as one of two equal parts of a unit, and they will recognise, find and name a quarter as one of four equal parts of a unit. They will understand that fractions, halves and quarters can be combined as part of a whole unit. Download the free activity sheet! 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

Students compete to make the strongest electromagnetic tool holder for a surgeons robotic arm. A practical activity where students work in teams to build their own electromagnet and use this to make an ‘arm’ with an electromagnetic gripper at one end. They are given some basic parts to start and a budget - a sum of ‘money’ or tokens with which to buy the other parts. Once their arm and gripper are complete they have 30 seconds to move as many paper clips from one pile to another as possible. The team moving the most paper clips in the allotted time is the winner. This activity makes students consider the factors involved in electromagnet strength and design. Download the activity sheets for free! And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

How to Draw a Section Drawing This is one of a set of resources developed to support the teaching of the primary national curriculum. They are designed to support the delivery of key topics within design and technology and maths. This resource focusses on creating a section drawing of a product. Different types of drawing are used to communicate different types of information. Section drawings are a type of 2D drawing that show the parts or features inside a product. In effect, a section drawing shows the view as if the product has been cut in half – most typically this is along the longer dimension of the product, such as its length. Section drawings are used to show what the inside of a product looks like and how the parts of a product fit together. Producing a section drawing develops drawing skills, whilst simultaneously allowing concepts such as dimensions, proportion and scale to be introduced in a practical context. In this activity learners will produce a section drawing of a safety helmet worn by cyclists, working in proportion and ideally to scale. This could be used as a one-off activity or linked to other D&T activities, such as product analysis or exploded drawing (especially when using the extension activity, creating a section drawing of a pen). It could also be used in conjunction with the IET Faraday Primary Poster – Section Views. Download the activity sheets for free! All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Please share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation.

Kids can create a delicious gingerbread house with this fun and easy baking recipe for beginners This fun and delicious recipe combines baking, engineering, and creativity! With this gingerbread house making project, children will have the opportunity to create their very own edible treat. This simple baking project for beginners provides a hands-on learning experience that explores the structural components of gingerbread house construction. Learners will examine the shapes and structures that contribute to the house’s overall stability, helping them develop a deeper understanding of engineering concepts. The engineering context Baking is engineering. Aspiring engineers can hone their science, maths, and technology skills through baking, as they use precision and creativity to engineer new and delicious treats. When it comes to making their gingerbread houses, children will need to channel their inner structural engineer to create a sturdy and eye-catching structure. The process of designing and building a gingerbread house requires careful consideration of the shapes, sizes, and placement of each piece, as well as the use of icing as a glue. Suggested learning outcomes This gingerbread house making activity offers a range of learning outcomes for students. In addition to developing baking and decorating skills, students will learn valuable STEM concepts related to structural engineering, including materials selection, load-bearing capacity, and stability. With guidance from their teacher or parents and our gingerbread house teaching activity overview, learners will have the opportunity to design and build their own gingerbread house, putting their newfound engineering skills into practice. By the end of this activity students will be able to design and make a gingerbread house and understand how to strengthen, stiffen and reinforce structures, gaining a deeper understanding of the principles of engineering. Download our free gingerbread house template and recipe A free gingerbread house template and recipe are available to download. They provide step-by-step instructions, a list of materials needed, and helpful tips for teachers and children alike. Oh ho ho, and please do share your baking and experiment highlights with us @IETeducation #SantaLovesSTEM

Following coded instructions for bisecting an angle In this activity students will learn how to code a geometric construction. They’ll do this by matching a set of instructions to the correct geometric construction. Learners will be introduced to the concept of Computer Numeric Controlled (CNC) machines. They’ll also be taught about the role of coding in executing precise tasks, such as bisecting an angle. This is one of a set of resources developed to aid the teaching of the secondary national curriculum, particularly KS3, supporting the teaching in maths or design & technology (D&T). Activity: Following coded instructions for bisecting an angle Students will use Robocompass, a web tool that lets leaners simulate geometric constructions on a computer screen. They will match each diagram with the correct instruction and arrange them so that they can create a storyboard of how to draw and bisect an angle. Download our activity overview for a detailed lesson plan for teaching students about coding a geometric construction. The engineering context Computer Numeric Controlled (CNC) machines follow pre-programmed instructions to execute tasks with precision, much like the coded geometric constructions students will work on in this activity. For example, CNC machines are used by engineers in manufacturing industries for common tasks such as cutting, drilling, and shaping materials. Suggested learning outcomes Students will learn how to bisect an angle while also learning how coded instructions can be used to execute geometric constructions. 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, 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.

Making calculations and applying formulas to a spreadsheet of data In this maths activity students will be asked to estimate the number of visitors within an aquarium. They’ll do this by using a spreadsheet mathematical formula that calculates the difference between the number of people entering and the number of people leaving the building. This is one of a set of resources developed to aid the teaching of the secondary national curriculum, particularly KS3, supporting the teaching in maths. Activity: Making calculations and applying formulas to a spreadsheet of data Students will view a dataset that has monitored the number of visitors entering and leaving a large aquarium. Learners will be asked questions based on this data, including how many visitors were in the building at a specific time. They will also be given a spreadsheet formula for calculating the difference between the number of people entering and exiting the building and be asked to adapt that formula for the different times of the day. Download our activity overview and presentation for a detailed lesson plan for teaching students about data logging. The engineering context Learning how to use maths formulas within spreadsheets saves a significant amount of time and brainpower, allowing engineers to quickly extract information from raw data. Devices that allow public buildings to monitor the number of visitors that are within a building at any one time are an example of data logging in practice. This may be essential for fire safety regulations or to prevent various areas from getting overcrowded. Suggested learning outcomes This data logging activity will give students the opportunity to identify and then attempt to explain numerical patterns and sequences. It also allows students to practice using formulas within spreadsheets such as Excel or Google Sheets. 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, 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.

A set of printable resources and guidance notes giving teachers and technicians the basic ingredients to run their very own IET Faraday® DIY Challenge Day. This cross-curricular activity day brings science, design and technology, engineering and maths (STEM) together in an engaging way. The context of the challenge Engineering has always been of great importance to the health industry. Machines, equipment, techniques and procedures are developing at a great pace and rely on engineering research and development. The field of bioengineering – the application of engineering principles to address challenges in the fields of biology and medicine, is advancing rapidly. As medical knowledge, techniques and expertise get more sophisticated, the needs to perform remote operations, to levels of minute accuracy, are becoming more and more necessary and common. The Remote Operations challenge is based on the IET Faraday® Challenge Day of the same name from our 2010/11 IET Faraday® Challenge Day season. Students work in teams to design and make a prototype device that can simulate a heart and kidney transplant, but must be operated remotely. Objects representing the human heart (tennis ball) and a kidney (ping-pong ball) must be picked up and accurately placed in their appropriate holes in an MDF/cardboard cutout of a human torso. Designed for six teams of six students (36 students in total) aged 12 – 13 years (year 8, and equivalent), the challenge encourages the development of students’ problem solving, team working and communication skills. This activity day can be tailored to the needs of your school and your students by adapting the PowerPoint presentation and the editable student booklet. **What’s included? ** The complete set of downloadable materials includes: Teachers pack A list of the practical materials needed, presenters’ notes highlighting key areas and reinforcing key themes throughout the day, some handy hints on how to deliver the day … plus printable Faradays currency and student certificates. Student booklet Available as an editable MSWord document to allow the booklet to be adapted to meets the needs of your students and your school. Introductory PowerPoint presentation A step-by-step guide for your students throughout the day, with supporting notes for the delivery of the presentation, including links to the related film clips. Film clips Informative clips about remote medicine and robotic surgery, plus examples of possible solutions to the challenge. To view the additional related videos, please visit the IET Education website.

In this activity learners will look at different methods to find position and direction on a map. They will learn how to use coordinates and bearings using angle and distance. They will work with a pirate treasure map and a series of worksheets to work out where the treasure is. Differentiated worksheets allow the learners to progress from using simple coordinates and vector coordinates to polar coordinates using bearings with angles and distances. This activity could be used as a main lesson activity, to teach learners how to use coordinates and angles. Further number skills may be used to work out map scale and distances. Download our activity sheet and other related resources for free! All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. The activity sheet includes teachers’ notes, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. You can download our step-by-step instructions below as either a classroom lesson plan or PowerPoint presentation. Please do share your highlights with us @IETeducation.

Learn how mathematicians predict UK’s future water usage In this activity students will explore water consumption by looking at mathematical modelling and its real-world application in predicting water usage. Students will estimate their daily water consumption, interpret complex data, and apply their mathematical skills to understand why water usage is a significant issue. 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 maths, science and design & technology (DT). This lesson plan follows on from Water Conservation and continues the theme of water usage developed in the Sewage Tunnels activity but can be delivered independently should the teacher wish. Activity: Comparing water usage within the UK to that of other countries In this activity, students start by estimating their daily water usage. They then delve into complex data from the Environment Agency, interpreting different scenarios and their potential impact on future water requirements. Students will develop their own spreadsheet tool, inspired by the one on the Southern Water website, to help others estimate their water usage. They’re encouraged to improve upon the existing tool and even write to the Water Board with their suggestions. Download our activity overview, presentation and worksheet for a detailed lesson plan for teaching students about water consumption. We also have a class quiz. The engineering context This activity highlights the intersection of mathematics, science, policy-making, and engineering in addressing real-world problems. By engaging in this activity, students will understand how engineers use mathematical models to predict future scenarios and develop solutions for sustainable water usage. They’ll see first-hand how engineering can make a significant impact on society and the environment. Suggested learning outcomes This lesson plan is designed to equip students with the ability to analyse and interpret a wide range of data, understand the application of mathematical modelling in real-world situations, and use their mathematical knowledge to review, recreate, and improve presented information. Students will also gain insights into the importance of water conservation and the challenges in meeting increasing water demands. Download our activity sheet for free! The lesson plan 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 worksheets and supporting lesson plan resources are free to download (including film 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

Understanding levers and forces This STEM activity aims to develop children’s understanding of levers, specifically the seesaw class lever, one of the simplest forms of machine used to change the magnitude or direction of a force. Making a small seesaw model is a fun-filled way to introduce children to the concepts of levers and forces. By making simple levers, learners will grasp how the effort applied to a lever affects the load. This hands-on project not only sparks their curiosity but also encourages active learning. We’ve created this seesaw scale activity to support the teaching of key topics within design and technology (D&T), maths, and science as part of the primary national curriculum at key stage 2 (KS2). You can use it as a one-off activity or link it with a measurement activity in food technology. Activity: Making the lever Learners will make a simple lever assembly from a binder clip, ruler, two paper cups and sticky tape. Children will also be asked to use a lever to work out the force required to move a load. Learners will compare results and explain their findings. Depending on available resources, this activity could be carried out individually or in small teams. Tools/supplies needed: Rulers Large binder clips Paper cups Sticky tape Weights such as steel nuts, small weights from science or marbles The engineering context Engineers use their understanding of how the effort applied to a lever affects the load in designing a wide range of products. From weighing scales to control pedals in cars, nutcrackers, wheelbarrows, bottle openers, and scissors, levers find their application across various industries. By understanding the seesaw lever class, learners will gain a fundamental insight into the principles that govern these everyday objects. Suggested learning outcomes Through this activity, learners will gain the ability to identify the parts of a lever and understand how the effort applied to a lever affects the load. They’ll also understand the principle of balance in a seesaw lever and how distance from the fulcrum impacts the effort needed to move a load. This will equip them with the foundational knowledge about levers, a key component in KS2 science, and provide a practical context for understanding mathematical concepts like multiplication and equality. Download our activity sheet and other teaching resources for free! All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so that you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. The activity sheet includes teachers’ notes, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Please do share your highlights with us @IETeducation

Learn scale with ancient Greek mathematics In this engaging activity for kids inspired by the achievements of ancient Greece, students will discover how to create a scale drawing of an object using ancient Greek mathematics. This activity, which combines maths and history, will introduce students to the concept of scale and teach students facts about how the ancient Greeks have affected modern life. Resources for teachers are provided. And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

In this activity students will calculate the area of a circle to design a fault detector system. They’ll use a GeoGebra file to measure the size of the defect in hot steel bars produced by the company. They’ll then have to organise the information they receive into an understandable table. This is one of a set of resources developed to aid the teaching of the secondary national curriculum, particularly KS3, supporting the teaching in mathematics. Activity: Organising mathematical information to choose the optimum size for a ‘fault detector’ coil In this lesson students will engage in a roleplay activity that uses mathematical calculations to figure out the ideal size for a fault detection coil. A company has invented a system to find defects in hot steel bars. The hot cylindrical bar must pass through a defect detector which is shaped like a ring. To work properly the bar must fill between 60 to 80% of the area inside the detector ring. The activity starts with a warm-up question related to circles and percentages to introduce the concept of fault detectors used in factories, where students can check their answers with the fault detectors GeoGebra file. Then, students will need to use reasoning to work out a more challenging problem related to fault detector design. Students will use the same GeoGebra file but they’ll need to work out how to organise the given information to answer the question. Download our activity overview and presentation for a detailed lesson plan and worksheet with answers on making fault detectors using the area of a circle. The engineering context Engineers rely on fault detectors as an essential tool in various manufacturing processes to guarantee the quality of their products. To ensure the safety and dependability of products, engineers must carefully design fault detectors capable of precisely identifying any imperfections or defects. Suggested learning outcomes Working with both diameter and radius, students will be able to use a formula to calculate the area of a circle. They’ll also be able to organise data using tables. 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, 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.

In this engaging activity, students will investigate the likelihood of selecting different fruits based on the number of each type in the bag, and they will examine the concept of probability, exploring how it relates to ‘chance’. Through observation and careful analysis, learners will gain a solid understanding of probability and its application in real-world scenarios, developing their ability to make educated predictions, estimate outcomes and making informed decisions. This activity is one of a set of STEM resources developed to support teaching the primary national curriculum and the delivery of key topics within maths and science. This resource focuses on probability. This activity serves as an excellent main lesson to introduce learners to the fundamental concepts of probability. As they delve into the calculations and reasoning involved, learners will sharpen their probability skills and enhance their grasp of numerical concepts such as ratios and proportions. By the end of this activity, participants will emerge with a strengthened ability to work out and comprehend probabilities while reinforcing their overall number skills. So, get ready to dive into probability, where every fruit-filled selection unveils a fascinating lesson in chance and uncertainty. How long does this activity take? This activity takes approximately 30-40 minutes to complete. Download our fun probability experiment worksheet below to begin. The engineering context Probability is important to engineers as it examines the likelihood of an event happening so that risks can be reduced. For example, a rail engineer will test the train tracks for a new high-speed train to reduce the probability of failure. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity, students will be able to calculate the probability of picking an item of fruit from a bag. Download the free activity sheet! 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 thrilling times table bingo game, we combine the excitement of bingo with the challenge of mastering multiplication. ** Students race against the clock to quickly identify the correct number on the bingo cards as the teacher calls out different multiplication problems to solve. They need to be prepared to think fast and strategise to complete lines and patterns or even achieve a full-house victory! Whether a beginner or a times table whiz, this game is an entertaining way to reinforce time tables knowledge. Activity This activity is one of a series of accessible STEM resources to support teaching the primary national curriculum and key topics within maths and science. In this activity, learners will solve a series of multiplication problems read out by the teacher. They will use these answers to play bingo, aiming to complete their given card with their responses; this will improve and reinforce learners’ multiplication skills in a fun and engaging context. Learners could play in small teams, pairs or as individuals. Students who win each round of the game could win a prize as a reward and an incentive to other learners. This multiplication bingo game could be used as a starter activity covering learning from a previous lesson, a plenary exercise reinforcing learning that has just occurred, or as one of several activities within a wider scheme of learning focusing on multiplication and division. How long will this activity take? This activity will take approximately 25-40 minutes to complete. Download the free handouts below for step-by-step guides and printable bingo cards. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity, students will be able to multiply numbers together using the 2-, 5- and 10-times tables, they will be able to solve multiplication problems using mental arithmetic, and they will be able to use correct mathematical statements and terminology relating to multiplication problems. The engineering context Engineers must use mathematics knowledge and skills regularly as part of their job. For example, calculating the strength of a material, the speed of a vehicle, the sizes of products or quantities of parts needed. Download the free activity sheet! 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 engaging experiment, students will learn how to measure time by recording the time it takes to complete a walking race where the winner is the last person to cross the line, not the first! This resource is part of a series created to support the primary national curriculum. Its purpose is to aid in teaching essential topics in mathematics and science. Activity In this particular activity, students will participate in a slow walking race and measure the time it takes to complete it. Working in small teams, they will use stopwatches to time each other and record the data. The collected results will be organised and discussed as a class, using terms such as faster, slower, and quicker. This activity serves as a central lesson to teach students how to gather data through measurement and apply their numerical skills in a practical setting. It can also be utilised as one of several activities within a broader learning framework emphasising using mathematics and science to comprehend time measurement. This activity is suitable for groups of 4 or more participants and can be conducted in various settings such as the classroom, hall, or outdoors. The distance for the slow walk race can be adjusted to accommodate the available space, with a recommended length of 5 meters. It is ideal to mark the start and finish lines using tape or any suitable material within the available space. Before starting the activity, ensure that the learners understand how to properly operate the stopwatches, including starting, stopping, and resetting functions. The teacher should provide a demonstration in advance to ensure clarity. How long will this activity take? This activity will take approximately 40-60 minutes to complete. Download the activity sheet below for a step-by-step lesson plan. The engineering context Accurate timing plays a crucial role for robotics engineers. They must determine the speed range at which two-legged robots can walk without losing balance. These engineers design robots to assist astronauts in space missions and perform demanding tasks like heavy lifting in factory settings. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity, students will be able to measure the time it takes to finish a race, they will be able to sort and compare time data, and they will be able to use the terms faster/slower to describe the time result of the race. Download the free activity sheet! 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

Explore maths with gingerbread men, and find out how many combinations of buttons are possibilities. This is a simple maths game for KS1 and KS2 mathematics, as a curriculum mapped activity to do at school or home. This activity in partnership with MEI is a ‘finding all possibilities’ type of problem. It encourages children to work systematically to ensure they know when all the solutions have been found, as well as ensuring they haven’t made any two gingerbread men look exactly the same. A strategy that will be promoted is the idea of fixing one of the variables, in this case one of the buttons, whilst changing the others in turn. To ensure they become confident talking about their maths, ask the children to work in pairs if possible in a classroom or at home. All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. The activity sheet includes teachers’ notes, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. You can download our step-by-step instructions below as either a classroom lesson plan or PowerPoint presentation. Please do share your highlights with us @IETeducation.

Work out the density of materials This activity for primary kids gives them an opportunity to work out the density of a material using Archimedes’ principle, an ancient Greek mathematician. Combining maths and science, students will learn how to collect data through experimenting and understand the properties of materials. This activity will test students’ number abilities and teach them historical facts about ancient Greece. Resources are provided for teachers. And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

Use Pythagoras Theorem to measure objects In this activity for kids, students will be introduced to the concept of the Pythagoras Theorem and what it is used for. They will use this knowledge to create a string triangle in the proportion of 3:4:5 and use it to measure objects from their base. This activity will test students’ maths abilities and teach them historical facts about ancient Greece. Resources for teachers are available. And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation