STEM Ambassador - Engineering - Primary
This set of resources are to help Engineering STEM Ambassadors introduce their work to pupils aged 5 to 11 years of age. The resources cover many types of engineering, but the common theme is that they contain activities that pupils could complete to show how engineers solve problems through the application of science and design.
The 'What is engineering?' resource contains a useful presentation 'Engineers don't all wear hard hats' to introduce what engineers do. This could be adapted by a STEM Ambassador to talk about the problem they are trying to solve. The presentation could be combined with a pupil hands on engineering activity to ensure high engagement and impact.
With these resources they provide a source of inspiration for some hands on activities that will work in a classroom.
What is engineering?
An introduction to engineering including an engaging presentation 'Engineers don't all war hard hats' and some pupil aciivities showing how nature can inspire design.
Wind power STEM challenge
This challenge gets pupils to design a simple wind turbine to drive a winch to lift a cup off the floor. The winning team is the one that lifts the most mass.
Water for everyone everywhere
The main activity in this resource is to build a water filter, evaluate its performance and consider how it could be improved. The resource can be used to introduce the global issues associated with access to clean water and the role engineers can play in this.
Shelter for the World
The main activity in this resource looks at the issues engineers face when building homes in different parts of the world. Pupils then work in groups to design houses for different needs.
Ice breaker
The activity in this resource asks pupils to investigate which hull shape is better for moving sea ice out of the path of a ship, using sand to represent the ice.
Loading Cargo
In the main activity in this resource pupils explore the balancing point of a boat when adding cargo and the effects of a load that is not balanced properly
Bridges and Structures
This resource contains a selection of activities that require pupils to think creatively about simple structures. Using a single piece of A4 they are challenged to build the tallest tower and the longest span for a bridge. There is also an opportunity to investigate the best construction methods to build a strong bridge using card.
A Fine Balance: Building a Hanging Sculpture
This resource contains a number of activities investigating how to build a balanced hanging sculpture lusing their understanding of forces.
Spaghetti Towers
This activity challenges pupils to build a tower from spaghetti and marshmallows having looked at the structures of different towers from around the world.
Vertically Challenged
This series of short activities demonstrate the key ideas and concepts used in designing and constructing buildings.
Modelling linkages
This simple activity allows pupils to investigate how linkage based mechanisms can change movement using card and fasteners arranged in different ways.
High Flyers: Building a Glider with Everyday Materials
This is a series of activities linked to a practical challenge for pupils to build their own glider as a team. Pupils investigate the best materials to use for their glider which they then design build and test.
How Will Your Roly Poly Move?
This straight-forward activity asks pupils to design and build their own push-along toy from cardboard tubing and cardboard.
Exciting electricity
In this activity pupils build a steady hand game which shows how a simple circuit works.
Fruit Lights
In this activity pupils investigate how fruit can be used to produce enough electricity to light an LED bulb and how the brightness of the bulb can be changed by the number of fruit batteries.