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.

Secondary classroom poster looking at AI and its applications in the modern world. Download the single poster or order a full set for free from the IET Education website.

Identifying which materials might offer the best prospects for a financial investment In this activity, students will investigate the properties of different types of smart materials and decide which ones might offer the best prospects for financial investment. The development of new materials with incredible properties is changing the way we live. From 4K TVs to super light airliners, these materials have quickly found their way into 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. This is one of a set of resources developed to aid the teaching of the secondary national curriculum, particularly KS3. It has been designed to support the delivery of key topics within design and technology (DT) and science. Activity: Identifying which materials might offer the best prospects for a financial investment Learners will investigate the properties of different categories of smart materials and decide which kinds of materials might offer the best prospects for a financial investment. Students work in teams and present their results to the rest of the class. The activity offers strong opportunities for cross-curricular work with Enterprise. This activity can be extended with a related practical session ‘Smart and modern materials’, where students identify a material from its particular properties. The engineering context Smart materials are often at the forefront of engineering and technological innovation with engineers using them to create products that are more durable, adaptable and more efficient to manufacture. From building structures that can withstand earthquakes to designing prosthetics that outperform human body parts, the applications of smart materials are vast (and continually expanding!). By learning about smart materials, students will get an insight into how these modern materials are made, used and how they can be applied to real world issues such as improving people’s lives. Suggested learning outcomes This lesson will teach students how to recall a variety of different examples of smart materials and describe how their properties react to changes in their environment. They’ll also be able to investigate smart materials on both a theoretical and practical level, understanding their applications as well as their investment potential. Download our activity sheet for free! The activity sheet includes teachers’ notes, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download (including 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

In this fun activity for kids, students can make cool crafts out of cardboard boxes. Use a cardboard box of any size and other recyclables you can find and use safely. We challenge you to get creative and bring one of our ideas to life or go a step further and invent your own project. Students should be encouraged to draw or write about as many ideas as possible for their cardboard box creation. They could make a castle, robot, rocket, or musical instrument. Learners could even think about a box they could get into or have fun with. No idea is too big! How long will this activity take? This activity will take approximately 30-59 minutes to complete. 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. This activity encourages resourcefulness by repurposing materials that might otherwise be discarded. Children can learn the value of recycling and environmental sustainability by transforming cardboard into imaginative creations. These crafts also enhance problem-solving skills as children conceptualise, plan, and construct their projects, developing critical thinking and spatial awareness. Download the free Crafts with cardboard boxes 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. 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. Don’t forget to take photos of your finished cardboard box design and share them with us @IETeducation.

Secondary classroom poster where your students can learn about the core maths principles and equations essential in design. Download the single poster or order a full poster set for free from the IET Education website.

This activity focuses upon how materials have been specifically engineered to provide certain qualities and characteristics. Learners will explore a range of engineered, synthetic, and smart materials, identifying why they are ‘fit for purpose’ and how they have been engineered to achieve this purpose. Children will delve into learning about the chemical, physical and mechanical properties of their chosen material. Not only will they learn about what the material looks like, both visually and at a molecular level, but also what it was designed to do, how it’s made, what it’s used for, and if its function has evolved over time. 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). Activity: Researching a specifically engineered material Students will work in pairs to conduct research on a specific engineered material. They’ll be tasked with creating a fact sheet or PowerPoint presentation covering all aspects of their chosen material. This includes its chemical, physical and mechanical properties, its appearance, its intended purpose, its manufacturing process, its composition, its applications, and any evolution in its function. The completed projects can then be used as a wall display or presented to the rest of the class, promoting a collaborative learning environment. The engineering context By understanding the process of engineering materials, students can appreciate the real-world implications of engineering. This activity will help them see the creativity, problem-solving, and innovation involved in engineering, inspiring them to consider a career in this exciting field. It also emphasizes the importance of engineering in our daily lives, showcasing how man-made materials contribute to various industries and applications. Suggested learning outcomes Learners will gain a deeper understanding of how materials can be designed and made for specific characteristics and purposes. They’ll be able to identify the properties of materials required for a particular function and explore a range of engineered materials, understanding why and how they have been developed. This activity not only enhances their knowledge of science, design, and technology but also nurtures their research, presentation, and teamwork skills. Download our activity sheet for free! The activity sheet includes teachers’ notes, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. You can download our classroom lesson plan below. Please do share your highlights with us @IETeducation.

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

Integrate a heart monitor into an item of clothing This is one of a series of resources to support the use of the BBC micro:bit in Design and Technology lessons. There are many reasons to monitor heart rate. For example: There are 2.7 million people in the UK currently suffering from heart problems. The quicker these problems can be found and treated the better the chance of a full recovery. Athletes measure their heart rate during training to ensure that they are training in their optimum physical range. In this unit, learners will use the BBC micro:bit to develop a prototype for a personal heart monitoring system. Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links In this activity, learners will design a fully integrated product. They will investigate and apply methods of attaching their device to a piece of clothing. The activity sheet includes teachers’ notes, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Download the activity sheets for free! All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

Investigate the potential effects of mobile phones on our health The ‘Time for a game’ scheme of work provides an electronics systems context for students to explore infrared technologies. Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links An engaging activity in which students will investigate the potential effects to health of the use of mobile phones and their transmitters, which use radio waves and microwaves to transmit information. The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Download the free activity sheet! All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

Explore the properties of solids, liquids and gases In this unit, students will develop their understanding of the properties of the three states of matter. They will have the opportunity to experiment with a range of different substances that do not fit neatly into the traditional states of matter model. Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links An engaging activity where students will explore materials to develop an understanding of why they behave the way they do. The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Download the activity sheets for free! All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

Analyse an existing product and how this could affect the design of a new product In this activity students will learn about ergonomics and design by analysing a wireless product using ACCESS FM. Learners will identify strengths and weaknesses and consider how to improve the product. Learning about ergonomics is a fantastic introduction to engineering for children, allowing them to step into the world of designing and improving products in a practical way. This is one of a set of resources developed to support the teaching of the secondary national curriculum, particularly KS3. It can be effectively taught within design technology (DT) as part of the curriculum for systems and control, electronic products, or product design, or through science. In this lesson, students will work in teams to conduct a product analysis of a provided wireless product, such as a TV with a remote control or a remote control car. What does ergonomics mean in design technology (DT)? In design technology (DT), ergonomics refers to the process of designing products, systems or processes to take proper account of the interaction between them and the people who use them. It’s about ensuring that designs align with the capabilities and limitations of the user, thereby enhancing efficiency and safety. The engineering context Ergonomics & design is a crucial aspect of engineering that focuses on the interaction between humans and the products, systems, or environments they use. It aims to improve these interactions by making them more comfortable, efficient, and safe. Learning about ACCESS FM helps aspiring engineers understand the multifaceted nature of product design. It equips them with the knowledge to consider all the different factors that can impact a product’s success, from its cost and aesthetics to its environmental impact and safety. This broader perspective can lead to more innovative and effective designs. Suggested learning outcomes The completion of this activity will enable students to explain how the analysis of existing products could affect the design of a new product. Students will gain a deep understanding of product design principles, the factors that influence design decisions, and how improvements can be made based on thorough product analysis. Download our activity sheets for free! The activity sheet includes teachers’ notes, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. Please do share your highlights with us @IETeducation

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

Primary classroom poster explaining what forces are and how they act. Download this single poster or order a full set of posters for free from the IET Education website.

Secondary classroom poster where students can find out how designers use models to understand how their ideas will look and function. Download the single poster or order a full set of posters for free from the IET Education website.

Secondary classroom poster calculating mechanical and electrical power. Order a free set of secondary posters from the IET Website.

Design and build your own water filtration system Water is crucial to human life, but it can also be a killer. Drinking or cooking water contaminated with micro-organisms or chemicals is a leading cause of disease and death across the world. Poor facilities for the disposal of sewage and other waste water can quickly lead to the spread of dangerous diseases. Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links This activity gets students to investigate different possible ways of filtering dirty water to improve its cleanliness by designing and building their own water filtration systems. The lesson can be extended with a practical session in which students work in small teams to investigate the salinity of different water samples – see the related extension activity ‘Water Treatment Systems’ within the related activities section below. The engineering context Drinking or cooking water contaminated with micro-organisms or chemicals is a leading cause of disease and death across the world. Poor facilities for the disposal of sewage and other waste water can quickly lead to the spread of dangerous diseases. Engineers and scientists work to provide us with safe, clean drinking water, with efficient and clean methods for disposing of our waste water and practical drainage solutions. Suggested learning outcomes Students will be able to recall the different types of impurities that can contaminate water. As well as this, they’ll know how to describe how water filtration equipment acts in several different ways to produce potable (drinkable) water. The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Download the activity sheets for free! All activity sheets and supporting resources (including film clips!) are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

Use vacuum forming to make chocolate egg moulds In this Easter STEM project students will learn about the vacuum forming process and its applications. They will learn how to use a vacuum forming machine to produce a mould that they can then use to cast a handmade chocolate Easter egg. This challenge is aimed at secondary school students and could be used as a main lesson activity to teach learners about the use of vacuum forming, or as part of a wider scheme of learning covering either manufacturing processes and techniques or the integration of different disciplines within Design and Technology. This is one of a set of free STEM resources designed to allow learners to use Easter themes to develop their knowledge and skills in Design and Technology, Science and Mathematics. This resource focuses on using the vacuum forming process to create a mould for a chocolate Easter egg. Please note that this activity requires access to a workshop for vacuum forming and appropriate facilities for hygienic food preparation, such as a food technology room. In many school workshops there will only be one or two vacuum forming machines available for use. In this instance learners will need to take turns in using this equipment. They could be split into small groups to make this process less time consuming. This is a fun and engaging Easter STEM challenge and will take approximately 50-80 minutes to complete. Chocolate Easter Eggs Although chocolate was introduced to Europe in 1502, it was initially just made into drinks, like cocoa. Chocolate Easter eggs were first made in France and Germany in the 19th Century. The first chocolate egg in the UK was made in 1873 by J S Fry and Sons Limited. One of the challenges with making these eggs was to form their shape. Tools/resources required Half egg-shaped former Suitable material for forming, such as high impact polystyrene (HIP) Vacuum forming machine Stanley knife or other cutting tool suitable for trimming the edges of the formed plastic mould Chocolate for melting (either cooking chocolate or milk chocolate bars work well) The engineering context Engineers use vacuum forming for manufacturing a wide range of products, such as storage containers, children’s toys, baths, and food packaging. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this exercise students will have an understanding of the main stages of the vacuum forming process. They will also be able to use the vacuum forming process to create a mould for a chocolate Easter egg. Lastly, they will be able to cast a chocolate easter Egg from a vacuum formed model. Download the free activity sheets, along with a fun bonus crossword using the words from the activity to enhance learning. All activity sheets and supporting teacher notes, presentation and curriculum links are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs.

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/

Discuss safety issues in personal transport and analyse data to work out which form of personal transport is currently the least safe Personal transport is becoming safer as technological advancements are made and more and more safety features are designed. In this fun STEM activity students will consider what safety features are in use today. Students will first name some personal transport methods, including those they use. In pairs they can discuss any safety features of these methods, why they are important and then they will rank the transport systems in order of how safe they think they are. The ‘Safety statistics A’ handout includes a chart which shows the proportion of reported road casualties by road user type and severity in Great Britain in 2012. The students will then interpret the data and write down what it shows. They can then compare this to the ranking they did in the discussion earlier. The handout shows that car occupants and pedestrians are the most common types of road casualties. How do you think safety can by improved for car occupants and pedestrians? Ask the students to think about what safety measures already exist and then ask them to think about what features cars should have in the future. This engaging activity that is the perfect way for KS3 students to develop their critical thinking skills. How long will this activity take? Approximately 30-59 minutes to complete. The engineering context Car and road safety engineers are professionals who are responsible for designing and developing vehicles and road systems that are safe for drivers, passengers, and pedestrians. They work on various aspects of vehicle and road safety, including crash testing, airbag seatbelt development, pedestrian protection, and traffic control systems. These engineers use their knowledge of physics, mechanics, and materials science to develop innovative solutions to improve vehicle and road safety. They also work closely with government agencies, automakers, and other organisations to develop and enforce safety regulations and standards. The work of car and road safety engineers is vital to ensuring the safety of drivers, passengers, and pedestrians on our roads. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity students will be able to interpret data from a chart, discuss the importance of safety features in personal transport and identify car and road safety features. 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

Alert homeowners to the risk of flooding with your prototype In this free resource, learners will identify the design problems presented by flooding. They will then develop a working flood warning system using the BBC micro:bit. By engaging in this activity, students will gain valuable knowledge about computing and design principles while having fun at the same time. This could be used as a main lesson activity. It is an ideal exercise for learners to improve their understanding of basic electronics, develop programming skills, make use of programmable components, and embed intelligence into a product design. **Tools/resources required ** Projector/Whiteboard BBC micro:bit system and online programming software Internet (to access programming software) PCB development software Moisture sensors and LEDs Crocodile clips or other wiring options (to attach input and output devices) PCB or strip board to create homemade moisture sensors and/or potential divider circuits PCB production facilities (etch tank or CAM router) What is the BBC micro:bit? The BBC micro:bit is a great way to get kids interested in computing. It is a small, programmable computer that can be used to create a wide variety of activities and projects. It is a powerful teaching and learning tool that helps learners develop their own systems and learn the basics of coding. It is an ideal tool for introducing children to programming concepts in a fun and engaging way. The engineering context This is an ideal topic for teaching about programmable components and embedded intelligence in products. These are key parts of the 2014 programme of study for Design and Technology at KS3. It is also an ideal vehicle for using the BBC micro:bit in the classroom and developing the programming skills of learners. Suggested Learning Outcomes By the end of this activity students will understand a block systems diagram of the flood warning system and they will understand the use of a moisture sensor as an input sensor. They will also be able to design a moisture sensor and/or potential divider circuit. Lastly, they will be able to successfully program the BBC micro:bit so that the system meets the design criteria. 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