Stem Projects

Years 8-9

cyber

Students are given a scenario in which a research site has been targeted by criminals. Using social engineering and decryption skills, they must gather information to help make the site which has been compromised safe.
The students are challenged to decode an encrypted message to hack into an iPad, then using information they find decide on an appropriate sensor which they must assemble. Then, using K’NEX, they will construct a system to access the site remotely. The students will then report back on all their findings and market their Cyber Engineering company to the judges.

Topics covered include:
construction, cryptology, electronic circuits social engineering.

Curriculum area covered:
Mathematics (KS3). Science (KS3). English (KS3). Design & Technology (KS3). Engineering (KS3 & KS4)

Curriculum link:
Mathematics – number. Mathematics - solve problems. Mathematics - reason mathematically. Science - working scientifically. Science - experimental skills & strategies. Science - analysis & evaluation. English - reading and writing.

Years 8-9

Smart Building

Energy and clean water supplies are 21st century engineering challenges. Students work in small teams of six to design and build a system to filter, collect, detect and pump collected rainwater as part of an integrated system on a new smart building. Students design and build a watertight water-collection unit, building in a filtration system. They will also need to assemble and solder an electronic water-detector and make a circuit for an electric pump to detect and then pump the water which has been collected.

Subjects covered include: electricity and circuits, forces, structures, soldering, water conservation.

Years 7-9

Wind Turbine

Students will design and construct a wind turbine to produce the greatest amount of electricity. They will construct a gearing system, design and construct turbine blades to maximise output and create a tower to carry the turbine.

Subjects covered include: circuits and electricity, forces, renewable energy, structures.

Years 8-9

Sustainable Island

An island with no access to electricity or clean safe drinking water has until now been left inhabitable. This project challenges students to think like engineers and come up with a way of using sustainable energy so that people are able to live there.
To do this, teams of students must design and construct a reservoir that can store as much rainwater as possible which can then be connected using a pump to a second reservoir closer to the village. Students must then design-and-build a free standing wind turbine that generates as much energy as possible for the village whilst spending as little as possible on the materials.

Subjects covered include: circuits and electricity, renewable energy, structures and forces, water conservation, wind power and wind turbines.

Years 5-6

Primary

Following introductory sessions to introduce engineering, team building and creativity, students will carry out “design and make” activities. The primary STEM day is made up of 4 challenges selected from the list below to be completed by a team of ‘STEM detectives’ taking in a range of subjects including design technology, maths and science as well as key skills such as teamwork and creativity.

Subject covered include: Teamwork, Logic, Contextualised Problem Solving, Speaking and Listening, Accurate design, budgeting, using tools to cut and form materials, Comparing design and practicality, following a brief, measuring accurately, creativity and innovation, Applying specific subject knowledge to a practical task, comparing materials for their suitability for a given task, following a design – test - evaluate cycle (using a plastic egg)