Using the context of the Nintendo Wii, this starter activity develops an understanding of the terms system, input, process, output and signal, and asks students to identify these features in some common products which are shown in the presentation.

In this full scheme of work, designed for a series of two-hour double-lessons, students develop a Mars Rover for NASA based on a standard VEX design. They learn about the components of a robotics system including control units and data communications, and work through a design process towards a prototype. The VEX...

In this design challenge from the National STEM Learning Centre and Network, students make a linear actuator. The lead screw linear actuator uses a motor driven screw thread to move a threaded slider along its length. Limit switches turn off the motor when the slider...

In this design challenge from the National STEM Learning Centre and Network, students construct a lever that is moved by muscle wire. This is a conductor that contracts when an electric current is passed through it. The wire movement controls a lever.

In this design challenge from the National STEM Learning Centre and Network, students make a rotating arm actuator. This uses a geared dc motor to turn a friction fit arm. Two cams can be set at different angles to operate limit switches to control the movement of the...

In this design challenge from the National STEM Learning Centre and Network, students build an electric racer powered by a super-capacitor. Students must construct the racer and choose which pulley ratio will enable it to cover the greatest distance.

Aimed at the 11-14 age group, this is a unit of six one-hour design and technology lessons to develop an understanding of how systems on exploration robots are combined and collect data. Students are given a design brief to build their own model rover, experientially, to function in simulated Martian conditions....

This is a unit of three two hour lessons to consolidate understanding of the specialised materials and mechanisms used on exploration robots. Students build or test, or build and test these to develop knowledge and evaluate them.  These resources are aimed at the 14-16 age group.  The context is focussed on the...

In this activity, students investigate the potential effects to health of the use of mobile phones and their transmitters, which use radio waves and microwaves to transmit information. Research can include the electromagnetic spectrum and its applications and how energy...

In this activity students design and model a 3D robot arm. Robot arms are an example of a programmable system. They are used in a wide variety of industrial applications, ranging from loading machines to assembling cars, welding parts together and spray painting products. They are also used in applications such as...

This pack is about music technology and was developed to accompany the Musical Moods mass participation project for National Science & Engineering Week 2011 which aimed to find a new way of classifying online content based on mood. The activities are linked to the British Science Association’s CREST Awards...

The Nuffield Design and Technology Teacher's File for Key Stage Three contains a large number of resource tasks which can be included in lessons. These short, focused activities are presented as instruction sheets and are intended to increase technical knowledge, skills and design strategies.

The file...

This resource uses the context of fencing to make a simple electric circuit. Students make an epee sword out of a smarties tube and incorporate a buzzer that should sound when the button on the end of the smarties tube is pressed. Students are encouraged investigate how they could change the volume of the buzzer or...

This five hour teaching pack supports students to research, design and prototype their own Internet of things product to enhance the working lives of firefighters.

This resource has been developed by the Raspberry Pi Foundation in conjunction with OCR.

The Flashing Light LED Recipe Card explains how to turn an LED into an output device for your Raspberry Pi. The resource guides the learner through the steps required when writing the program to make the...