For her research, Veronika looked at how pine cones close when the weather is wet and open when it is dry. Pine cones do this to give their seeds the best chance of flying far away from the tree so that they can grow into new trees far away. In the rain, the seeds will not fly as far and will end up competing with...

A National STEM Learning Centre and Network Engineering Case Studies resource investigating the use of metals to kill germs in the treatment of wounds.

'Silver Pants' is a humorous take on a modern application of ancient technology - using metals to kill germs. Smith & Nephew have developed a posh...

In this activity from Science upd8 students think about carbon footprints and which goods and services cause the biggest carbon dioxide emissions. What choices can be made to minimise emissions?

This topical activity helps the student to make informed choices regarding the carbon dioxide emissions of a...

This activity, from the Centre for Science Education and the Comino Foundation, is set in the context of choosing a birthday gift. It encourages students to think about carbon footprints. Which goods and services cause the biggest carbon dioxide emissions? What choices can we make to minimise emissions? 



A National STEM Learning Centre and Network Engineering Case Studies resource investigating air products and how they can be used.

How do you deliver the right amount of gas to a patient during an operation?

A modern twist on a very old design is the answer. Air Products produce rotameters, which help...

This is one of a set of resources produced in conjunction with the engineering company Arconic. The resources are designed to support teaching of key engineering concepts at both key stage 3 and key stage 4, including the new GCSE in Engineering. This resource focusses on designing a sustainably powered aircraft...

This activity, from the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), explores how the antenna part of body centric antennas (BCAs) work and encourages students to consider ethical issues surrounding the use of advanced technology to control prosthetics.

This lesson links aspects of states of matter to the use of bubbles to deliver drugs to cancerous tissue, and is appropriate to students aged 12- 14. Most children will be familiar with soapy bubbles consisting of gas surrounded by a film of moisture. This lesson looks at the formation of bubbles that contain...

The Royal Academy of Engineering has developed a teaching and learning resource for Key Stage Three that combines design, technology, mathematics and science activities. The resource allows students to investigate the question: Athlete or machine? Which is more important in the bob skeleton event? To answer the...

A National STEM Learning Centre and Network Engineering Case Studies resource investigating battery powered lawnmowers and their potential environmental impact.

Lawnmowers have come a long way since they were a mechanical cutter being pushed along by hand. A smart battery (like in your mobile phone) lets you...

In this resource, students use their STEM skills to help them design and build a model of a flood- proof house. Activities to help them with their design include testing materials (for strength and absorbency) and structures. Set on a fictitious island coping with the devastating effects of flooding caused by...

From Practical Action and the Royal Academy of Engineering, this short starter activity helps students to think about their own values and those of their peers in relation to the sustainability of engineering. The activity encourages an awareness of the impact of engineering on the environment and sustainability....

This resource looks at how biomimicry enables engineers to take ideas from the natural world to develop new products and designs. The specific example of gecko tape is used to illustrate this. Students play a game of pairs where they need to match technology with the animal or plant which inspired its development....

The Bionic Boy resources take inspiration from the Born to Engineer video from Ben Ryan, who is working to develop low-cost 3D-printed prosthetic limbs for young children and babies. Through discussion and practical activity, this resource supports students to increase their understanding of engineering through...

This resource, from Siemens UK, looks at the use of wind farms to provide sustainable energy for a range of communities in a variety of settings. The selection of a New Zealand context is significant as Maori communities see themselves as being responsible for effective stewardship of the land for future...