Fun in the classroom

Each of the four student activites below consist of student sheets, which outline the task, and extensive teacher notes, which include curriculum links and strategies for differentiation.

Click on the links below to view and print these resources.

Click here to download the enginuity 'What is engineering?' poster 2008

Scroll down the page for more case studies...

Flying without engines

Pupils devise and carry out tests to decide the best fabric for a kite, a hot-air balloon, a hydrogen or helium weather balloon or a hang glider wing. They also research what types of fabric are used in commercial designs, and why. If there’s time, pupils may build a kite or a model hot-air balloon.

Click here to download Flying without engines.

Stirring stuff

This worksheet provides questions to prompt pupils to think about what’s involved in mixing foods. The main activity then comprises two investigations (unstirred mixing techniques and stirring techniques) and then a food preparation (following a recipe in which pupils must decide on the most suitable method of mixing).
Traffic lights

Click here to download Stirring stuff.

Traffic lights

Pupils investigate how to use electronics to turn lights on and off automatically in sequence, adjust the timing of the sequence and build a circuit that operates a set of model traffic lights correctly.

Click here to download Traffic lights.

Happy landings

Pupils investigate a range of materials that could be used on the floor of a children’s playground. They rate each material for child-friendliness and environmental-friendliness, and consider what else might affect the choice of material. They then produce a report for the local parks department about the material they found most suitable.

Click here to download Happy landings.

 

These eight student activities relate to the two posters ‘engineering chocolate’ and ‘engineering live music’. The activities can be used within the Key Stage 3 Science Programme of Study, the Northern Ireland Science Statutory Requirements and levels 3 and 4 of the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence Science Outcomes.

Note: all activities include student instructions and comprehensive teaching notes. The teaching notes include curriculum links, suggestions about introducing the activity and equipment lists. There are also some ideas for extension activities. Student sheets include follow-up questions.

 

Light and colour (lighting technician)

Lighting technicians need a good understanding of how to mix lights to create the desired effect. In this activity, pupils investigate light and the visible spectrum. They use light boxes to investigate what happens when coloured light is passed through different coloured filters, and what happens when different coloured lights combine.

Click here to download Live music - Light and colour.

Hot wires (electrical engineer)

Electrical engineers design, build and test electrically-powered products and circuits, and make sure they are safe. In this activity, pupils investigate how to limit current in electrical circuits to prevent overload. Using fine steel wool as a fuse in a simple circuit, they increase the voltage and watch how the fuse blows before the lamp filament.

Click here to download Live music - Hot wires.

Turn it down! (sound engineer)

Sound engineers work with sound frequencies and amplitudes. Together with acoustic engineers, they make sure that music volumes are acceptable at venues. In this activity, pupils investigate volumes at which people listen to music and find out how it may damage their ears. The activity takes them around the school, to places with different ambient sound levels.

Click here to download Live music - Turn it down.

Balancing act (structural engineer)

Structural engineers design buildings. They have to calculate all the forces involved, including those imposed by heavy stage lighting. In this activity, pupils carry out experiments with a pivot block, metre rule and masses to find out about moments. They use their findings to explain how to balance a temporary lighting rig.

Click here to download Live music - Balancing act.

Hot chocolate (chemical engineer)

Chemical (process) engineers write and follow really clear, precise instructions – standard procedures. In this activity, pupils investigate the importance of these precise instructions. They write their own standard procedure based on the packet instructions for making hot chocolate. Pupils then use their procedure to conduct a taste test – making sure everyone tastes exactly the same drink.

Click here to download Chocolate - Hot chocolate.

Keeping cold (environmental engineer)

Environmental engineers make sure processes use energy and resources efficiently and are environmentally friendly. In chocolate production, milk is transported in insulated tankers – it’s more energy efficient than refrigeration. In this activity, pupils investigate thermal insulation and the notion that insulation doesn’t just keep things hot – it keeps them cold, too. They carry out experiments on different materials to determine which is the best thermal insulator.

Click here to download Chocolate - Keeping cold.

Engineering colour (packaging engineer)

Packaging engineers don’t just make sure that products are not damaged in transit – they also make sure the packaging looks good by choosing the right materials and dyes. In this activity, pupils investigate the take up of different types of dye – natural and synthetic – by different types of fabric. They then carry out experiments to see how washing at different temperatures affects the dye’s take-up.

Click here to download Chocolate - Engineering colour.

Testing milk (biochemical engineer)

Biochemical engineers use scientific principles to make sure food isn’t contaminated by bacteria during production. In this activity, pupils use Universal indicator strips and resazurin solution to test the quality of milk samples. Results allow them to place the samples in order of age.

Click here to download Chocolate - Testing milk.