Primary Engineering
This list of resources supports engineering and Design and Technology at primary level.
ENGINEER
This collection contains ten ENGINEER primary school units developed to support science learning within the context of a wide range of engineering design challenges. Each unit features a different science area and engineering field and requires only inexpensive materials in order to support science exploration and problem-solving design.
Water for the World
This activity looks at water consumption on a local and global scale. Students learn about the main water contaminants and various methods of purification and the role of engineers and their approach to design challenges. They work in teams to build a water filter.
A New Revolution
This resource aimed at primary learners, links to electricity, design and technology and aspects of literacy. Children learn about motors and how many objects use electricity to improve their usefulness. Looking at a variety of objects they compare their features and then take on the role of an entrepreneur and invent something which makes life easier for someone. They then pitch their concept to investors, devise an advert and use persuasive argument to convince others of the technological benefits of their inventions.
Vertically Challenged
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 plastic from milk, building bridges and making a tower out of spaghetti.
Brompton Bicycle: Key Stage 2 Resources
This resource, aimed at Key Stage Two, contains five design and technology projects that focus on bicycles. Providing many cross curricular links and opportunities to develop thinking skills, children are asked to: consider the needs of the rider, carry out research, communicate ideas, solve problems, work collaboratively and evaluate designs in light of the design brief.
Welding with Chocolate
This activity, from The Welding Institute, gives students the opportunity to build structures made from chocolate. In the example given, a box-section is compared with a flat plank of chocolate, to see which is the strongest when spanning a gap. The structures are readily related to the context of bridge-building. The activity is simple and can be used to demonstrate ideas such as the strength of structures, welding, melting, reversible change, strength testing and the properties of materials.
Green Fairgrounds
The RA3 project aims to bring parents together with their children and teachers to explore the worlds of science, technology, engineering and maths.
This investigation helps to develop an awareness of green power by designing and making a new fairground ride which is self-powered. The activity will help adults and children to learn about sustainable energy and its importance in the community and wider world. In completing the activity, both will develop their confidence and the ability to feel at ease when working together
