Resources by Practical Action

6R's explained *suitable for home teaching*

These resources consist of a presentation and activity sheets to support design and technology students aged 14-16. It helps students to gain knowledge and understanding of sustainable development and the use of precious resources. The 6 R's are:

• Rethink: what could be done differently?
• Refuse...

Agriculture - technical briefs

These technical briefs look at agricultural production in many parts of the world, carried out on a small-scale by farmers. Relatively small improvements in agricultural practice can have a big impact on yield and dramatically improve the life of a farmer and their family.

Technical briefs are documents...

Beat the Flood STEM challenge

In this resource, students use their STEM skills to help them design and build a model of a flood- proof house. Activities to help them with their design include testing materials (for strength and absorbency) and structures. Set on a fictitious island coping with the devastating effects of flooding caused by...

Belief circles - the role of a designer

From Practical Action and the Royal Academy of Engineering, this short starter activity helps students to think about their own values and those of their peers in relation to the sustainability of engineering. The activity encourages an awareness of the impact of engineering on the environment and sustainability....

Climate Change *suitable for home teaching*

This Concept Cartoon on climate change was produced by Millgate House Education and Practical Action. This cartoon helps students explore issues around climate change; what causes it and how it affects peoples' lives around the world. Concept Cartoons are quick, simple and effective. They are designed to intrigue,...

Climate change - concept cartoon

This cartoon helps pupils explore issues around climate change; what causes it and how it affects peoples' lives around the world.

Concept Cartoons are quick, simple and effective. They are designed to intrigue, provoke discussion and stimulate thinking. Concept Cartoons make concepts problematic and provide...

Climate change wordsearch

From Practical Action, this climate change word search contains relevant key words on climate change.

Construction - technical knowledge

These technical briefs look at the ways Practical Action have helped poor communities to make the best use of their own labour and to use locally produced building materials and techniques that they can afford and manage.

Technical briefs are documents produced by Practical Action which are freely available...

Cool Pots - Primary Global upd8

This activity provides a practical context to explore thermal insulation and changes of state at primary level. Families living in Sudan find that due to the warmer climate fruit and vegetables tend to not stay fresh for long. In order to solve this problem they use a clay pot (zeer pot) refrigerator to help...

Cultural Sustainability

Two worksheet based activities that can be used to identify the impacts of technology upon people to sustain their communities in the future. The first activity considers the cultural impact upon sustainability with key questions to research and the second task is an analysis activity looking at cultural, economic...