This is one of a set of resources developed to support the teaching of the primary national curriculum. They are designed to support the delivery of key topics within science and design and technology. This resource focusses on the use of fruit to power a light emitting diode (LED).

Did you know that fruit...

A Catalyst article describing the use of smart materials to help people with disabilities. Many more people with physical and mental disabilities are leading independent lives at home, thanks in part to recent technological developments. The article focuses on one project which makes use of smart materials to help...

A group of enthusiastic mathematics and science teachers with an interest in raising student achievement and making the link between the STEM subjects spent several months working as a STEM Knowledge Network and were able to commit time to evaluating the benefits of...

V&A Innovate is a challenge for schools that encourages students to use design thinking approaches and human-centered design methodology. Students are invited to choose from three contextual challenges, inspired by the V&A collections and exhibitions that ask critical questions about the issues shaping our...

This collection of resources supports teachers to run the V&A Innovate National Schools Challenge with their students. It contains downloadable resources and inspiring videos that will helps students participate in the creative design process needed to approach the 3 design challenges:

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VEX 123 STEM Labs activities offer ways to link physical computing and robotics to STEM and computing. These one-page exercises are designed to be easy to follow, for independent application for pupils. Each activity is designed around a ‘Play’ based concept to apply the computer science skills and concepts pupils...

These activities offer one-page exercises to incorporate the VEX GO kit and STEM concepts in a cross curricular way. From animal habitats, to architecture, compasses to music, these activities offer great cross curricular STEM opportunities for physical computing.  

This sample of a teacher guide introduces basic robotics using VEX IQ robotics kits and ModKit programming software – the activities are based upon a single robot model which can be constructed from the VEX starter kit.

Students learn about basic movement of the robot rover, as well as related challenges, in...

In this activity, learners will use a vacuum former to manufacture a suitable casing for a programmable product. It...

Aimed at primary level, the activities within this pack demonstrate key ideas and concepts used in designing and constructing buildings such as: how levers and pulleys work, the properties of materials and the forces involved in different structures. Activities include: making a lever to lift a grown up, making...

Through this challenge, pupils will have the opportunity to explore and understand the everyday life of the Victorians. Pupils will have the opportunity to identify potential problems/areas of Victorian life where an invention could be useful and to use drawing, writing and speech to communicate their invention to...

In this video from the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), engineers explain the technology behind Wii controllers. Micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS) is the technology behind games console controllers and products like air bags. New applications for...

Astronauts, and especially spacecraft commanders, must take in a huge amounts of information from displays and screens. Small changes in this information might indicate important changes that should be addressed, and missing the signs may have important consequences.

This simple activity challenges students...

This worksheet challenges students to complete a number of drawing challenges, converting between 2D and 3D forms. It provides worked examples, examiners top tips and answers to each question. The resource is useful for teaching maths content in design and technology, or as a maths activity sheet.