Technology for Fun STEM workshop

Inspire and enthuse your pupils about STEM whilst linking to learning objectives from the KS2 curriculum. Select one of the following workshops:

Fan boats workshop

Design, build, test and improve an electric fan boat, whilst learning about science (electricity, materials, forces), maths (measurement) and D&T. Up to 30 pupils working individually, or a training session for teachers. The school gets to keep the materials to re-use with future classes.

Vibrating brush monsters workshop

Design, build, test and decorate a vibrating brush monster, whilst learning about science (electric circuits & forces), maths (measurement) and D&T. Up to 30 pupils working individually, or a training session for teachers. The school gets to keep the materials to re-use with future classes.

Crumble controller workshop – lighthouse or coloured spinner

Learn how to connect up and program a Crumble controller. Build a model lighthouse, and programme it to flash and come on in the dark. Alternatively design and make a coloured spinner and control it to rotate forwards and backwards at different speeds. Learn to write programs to monitor and control your products (including sequence, selection and repetition and working with variables and different forms of input and output).  Up to 30 pupils working in groups of three, or a training session for teachers. The school gets to keep the materials to re-use with future classes.

Other workshops, e.g. balloon buggies, CD racers, sailing boats

Design, build and test your own working models whilst linking to science (forces & materials), maths (measurement, calculating average speed) and D&T learning objectives. One class in the morning and another in the afternoon, or a training session for teachers covering a selection of activities. Children (or teachers) get to keep their models.    

In order to encourage environmental awareness and responsibility, pupils may wish to bring in recycled materials such as plastic bottles, bottle lids, juice cartons, old CDs and polystyrene foam packaging to use in any of these projects.

Pupils will be engaged and enthused about STEM. They will apply their understanding and practical skills in science, maths, D&T and computing to create actual working models, and relate these to applications in the real world, helping them to see the relevance of what they learn at school. The projects are designed to appeal to both girls and boys, and to provide a memorable experience which they will associate with STEM in the future. This may encourage them to consider STEM as a possible career direction.

If encouraged to use recycled materials for the projects this should improve the pupils' environmental awareness and encourage them to upcycle and find alternative uses for materials which would otherwise be thrown away.

The STEM Directory is provided as a service to support you in finding enrichment opportunities. The activities are offered by external providers and are not endorsed by STEM Learning. We are not responsible for their content or delivery.