Resources by National STEM Learning Centre and Network

Controlling Plant Cell Division to Enhance Biofuel Production

Produced in 2015, these post-16 resources look at how the control of cell division can lead to the production of lignified (woody) tissue. This has direct applications for producing greater quantities of energy rich biofuels. The resources are based on the...

CPU jigsaw

This activity allows students to construct a paper CPU using “jigsaw” pieces. They can also add notes to their jigsaw explaining the function of each component. Carrying out this activity allows students to relate sub components of the CPU to one another. For example, they will appreciate that level 1 cache memory...

Creating a 'Rockets in Motion' Project

At Bishop Challoner Catholic College in Birmingham, a STEM project entitled “Rockets in Motion” took place during the autumn term of the 2010-2011 academic year. The project ran through a series of after-school sessions led jointly by the science, technology and...

Cross-Curriculum Cooperation in Product Design

Students often seem uncomfortable when confronted with a science teacher talking about mathematics in a science lesson or a design and technology teacher talking about science in a design and technology lesson.

Karen...

Cystic Fibrosis as a Teaching Context at Key Stage 4

Produced in 2015, these resources use Cystic Fibrosis as a context to provide an opportunity to develop students understanding of a number of key concepts in biology in a connected and real way. Scientific advances in the treatment and diagnosis of CF are fast moving,...

D&T teachers CPD survey

Published in September 2010, this summary of an online survey looks at design and technology (D&T) teachers’ attitudes towards CPD.

The full collection of STEM Learning impact and evaluation research reports can be viewed here. 

Demonstrations for the Christmas Dinner Table

In this National STEM Learning Centre and Network video, Simon Quinnell demonstrates four experiments, with the theme of Christmas, that teachers can do in the school laboratory.

These are:* Tea bag convection - see...

Design a boat

Water pushes upwards with a force called ‘upthrust’. (You can feel this if you try to push a light object such as a balloon or aeroboard under water). The shape of a ‘boat’ affects the weight (passengers/cargo) it can hold. The more water that the boat displaces the more it will float and therefore the more weight...

Design a new robot submarine

This resource is part of the Polar Explorer Resource Collection https://www.stem.org.uk/polar-explorer-educational-resources

This unit explores how robot submarines are used to explore the oceans and how they use...

Diffraction of laser light

In these short videos, Michael de Podesta explains how a laser can be used to show the diffraction and interference of light. Using a laser pen in the classroom, the wave nature of light is demonstrated as a thin wire is used to generate an easily-seen interference pattern.

Two versions of the video are...