A series of STEM projects, bridging design and technology and computing, which make use of the BBC micro:bit microcontroller device.

This resource looks at what properties of infra-red make it so useful in gaming technology? Students develop a working prototype of a simple infra-red electronic circuit, identify an input and an output and test the performance of the circuit. They then explain how the findings of their research could affect their...

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...

A range of Nuffield Foundation resources for students to develop and reveal their capability, longer more open tasks requiring designing, making and evaluating are necessary. Sometimes these activities are referred to as projects, or design and making assignments. In Nuffield Design and Technology these are called...

A selection of chooser charts developed by the Nuffield Foundation, focusing on designing at Key Stage Four to help students make decisions about approaches to take for strategy and communication. Tasks are available for Key Stage Four in electronic products, food technology, graphics products, product design and...

A set of Key Stage Four Nuffield Foundation capability tasks focusing on the design, making and evaluation of electronic products.

For students to develop and reveal their capability longer more open tasks requiring designing, making and evaluating are necessary. Sometimes these activities are referred to as...

A set of Key Stage Four Nuffield Foundation chooser charts focusing on electronic products.

Chooser charts help students make decisions about approaches to take for strategy and communication. The chooser charts are particularly useful when students are tackling open-ended projects, such as capability tasks...

A set of Key Stage Four Nuffield Foundation resource tasks focusing on electronic products.

Resource tasks are short, practical focused, activities designed to teach the resources for capability in a way which should intrigue and amuse students.

This resource describes how to make a brooch which uses a magnetic switch to holds it in place on the garment to turn on the LED. The magnetic switch is stitched into one side of the circuit. When the magnet is attached to the switch this joins the circuit making the LED switch on. When the magnet is taken away...

This project shows how to embellish a skirt with buttons and embroidered flowers enhanced with LEDs in the centre of each flower. It uses a metal zip as an on/off switch so that when the zip is open the LEDs are off and when it is closed they come on. Each flower is made up of a lazy daisy embroidery stitch with a...

This set of course materials from the National STEM Learning Centre and Network were designed to build an understanding of how electronics can be combined with textiles at Key Stage Three, starting with simple circuits and leading to more complex programming and effects...

What is the Internet of Things (IoT) and how can it help firefighting in the future?

These activities explore how design can improve the equipment that fire fighters use, improving safety for both the general public and the fire fighters themselves.

The single-lesson one-hour activity requires no...

MagPi is the official Raspberry Pi magazine. Articles range from beginner guides through to advanced programming and physical computing projects. Many of the articles are of use to teachers using Raspberry Pi computers - these have been selected and are contained within this collection.

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...