Nuffield Design and Technology 11-14: Teacher's File
The Nuffield Design and Technology Teacher's File for Key Stage Three contains a large number of resource tasks which can be included in lessons. These short, focused activities are presented as instruction sheets and are intended to increase technical knowledge, skills and design strategies. The file starts with the full…
One Planet Packaging
These materials, from Waste Watch (part of Keep Britain Tidy), have been developed to make explicit links between sustainability and packaging for students following GCSE level design and technology courses. The scheme of learning includes suggested activities for five active learning sessions, supported by the learning resources,…
Manufacturing
Produced by the Technology Enhancement Programme (TEP), these images are useful for adding to documents, presentations or for use with an interactive whiteboard. Mainly simple line drawings, they can be cut and pasted into documents and image processing applications. The images in this resource are related to the topic of manufacturing…
Communications and Radar
Produced by Innovate Educate and Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire, these materials allow students to investigate circuits using communication as a context. The principles behind radar are also examined. The activities can be used individually or together in a series of sessions. The activities are: Using electric circuits to…
Computers Helping with Designing at Key Stage Two
Produced by the Nuffield Foundation, these materials describe activities that challenge children to produce a design for a vehicle. It must be suitable for use as a storage and transport vehicle for some of the equipment used in a fairground. The vehicle should be eye catching, so that it attracts attention from the public as it…
Products and Applications at Key Stage Two
Produced by the Nuffield Foundation, the activities in this booklet use paper carrier bags as a context in which to explore designing, making and evaluating. There are a series of small tasks that encourage children to consider: The form of products Paper carrier bags are usually mass produced from a single sheet of paper to…
Product Design: Sports Shoes
From CIEC Promoting Science, these activities deal with the different stages of market research, product design, selection of materials and manufacturing processes in the sports shoe industry. Through a range of activities and practical investigations, students gain a greater understanding of: • Development of a new sports…
Sustainability: Making a Start
In this Teachers TV video, designer Kursty Groves visits Haydon School to help the design and technology department introduce sustainable issues into its projects. Kursty believes that most design and technology teachers are aware that environmental issues have never been more important and sustainable development is now a requirement…
Sustainability: Leading the Way
In this Teachers TV programme Kevin Hull, Head of Design and Technology at a large comprehensive school in Birmingham, talks about the Education for Sustainable Development programme he has developed in his department. The film shows some of the projects in action, including the Eco Bean Cafe project in Year Seven, and a Year Ten…
Product Analysis: Impacts on People and Environment
This resource from Practical Action includes a presentation and worksheets which give Key Stage Three and Four students opportunities to understand more about the impact of existing and new products on people and the environment. The presentation is packed with useful activities to reinforce students' learning. The activities…
Sustainable Design: What Is the Role of a Designer?
In this resource from Practical Action, a presentation and linked activities provide design and technology teachers with opportunities to highlight the different values and beliefs that designers may hold. Students can engage in exploring their own values about the responsibilities of designers and companies too. The powerpoint…
3/5- Publication year: 2010 to date
- Activity sheet
Technical Bulletins
These Technology Enhancement Programme (TEP) technical bulletins provide quick and accessible guidance for teachers on how to get the most from equipment and techniques in a learning environment. The subjects covered include: PODs Thermoforming Describes how rigid foam PVC sheet and clear acrylic sheet can give outstanding results…
Electronics 14 to 16
This textbook from the Technology Enhancement Programme (TEP) is intended to introduce students to making electronic devices and systems. It looks at important electronic components and how they can be put together to perform useful tasks. How to design and make electronic circuits is aided by descriptions of how components are assembled…
Control Technology 14 to 16
Published by Technology Enhancement Programme (TEP) this book is designed to show examples of key control principles. The focus is on design and construction of systems. Each of the six design and make tasks is intended to occupy 5-10 hours of curriculum time and the projects are: • Designing and making a thermochromic display •…
Manufacturing 14 to 16
This book, produced by the Technology Enhancement Programme (TEP) includes six design challenges. These cover: • Engineering in miniature • Simple mouldings: design and manufacture of an injection moulded product • Designing and making a 'hi-tech' pen • Designing and making a desk top chronometer •…
Shadow Air Muscle 14 to 16
This publication, from the Technology Enhancement Programme (TEP), is about the Shadow Air Muscle. This is a new kind of device for producing movement and is commercially available from the Shadow Robot Company. This book covers some activities that can be carried out using the 'muscle', to design devices such as: •…
Young Technologist's Handbook
Produced for the Technology Enhancement Programme (TEP), this book contains a comprehensive selection of useful descriptions and reference information on the properties of materials, manufacturing processes, ergonomics and electronics. This pulls together a wide range of data into a single publication, accessible to students aged…
STEM Club Activity: the Whole Package
Published by the Royal Academy of Engineering, this activity sheet describes a group activity designing and manufacturing smart packaging which uses thermochromatic pigments to show that the food product is at the correct temperature. The sheet also contains a profile of a mechanical development engineer.
- 4/5
- Publication year: 2010 to date
- Activity sheet
Fantastic Plastic
This Catalyst article looks at the use of polymers in the manufacture of household items. The exciting thing about polymers is that it is possible to make polymers behave in so many different ways by organising their long chain molecules in different ways – polymers are the ultimate designer material. The article looks at their…
- 5/5
- Publication year: 2000 - 2009
- Article
It's a Material World
A Catalyst article about working in materials science and engineering, the process of deciding which material is best for each application. The structure of materials, processing them and working in jobs and careers with them are explained. This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2007, Volume 17, Issue 3. Catalyst…
Silent Flight
A Catalyst article describing how engineers have designed an aircraft which will produce much less noise as it approaches and leaves the airport. The Silent Aircraft Initiative is a collaboration between scientists and engineers at two universities, Cambridge (UK) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA). With air travel…
Would You Be a CLEVER Driver?
A Catalyst article about the CLEVER car, which has been designed to be a compact, energy-efficient car. As more and more people want to get about within cities and towns, the problems of congestion and pollution are increasing. Motorcycles and bicycles take up less space and produce fewer emissions than conventional cars, but they…
Darwin's Digital Children
This Catalyst article is about using computer models which use natural selection to evolve new products. Computers can be used to simulate evolution showing how some species die out and how others evolve and thrive. Products used by humans in everyday activities also evolve and this article describes how their design evolves. This…
Water Power: the Micro-Hydro Revolution
This Catalyst article is about a micro-hydroelectric power station on a river in Yorkshire. As oil prices soar and global warming threatens, the need for affordable green solutions to the energy crisis is ever increasing. Giant hydroelectric power stations, such as the Three Gorges Dam in China, will help to fulfil this necessity.…
Selling Science Short
A Catalyst article about a group of young scientists testing scientific claims in advertising. The group thought many claims sounded implausible. They decided to hunt for the scientific evidence behind them and challenge the manufacturers to explain how the products work. The article outlines the investigations undertaken and the…
Using Shape Memory Alloys
A Catalyst article describing the use of smart materials to help people with disabilities. Many more people with physical and mental disabilities are leading independent lives at home, thanks in part to recent technological developments. The article focuses on one project which makes use of smart materials to help people with dementia. This…
Biomimetics
A Catalyst article describing how new materials can be designed by studying natural materials and how they work. In particular the development of Velcro, military fabric, swimwear and waterproofing is looked at. These products were developed by scientific study of natural products such as plant burrs, pinecones, sharks skins and…
LEDs - Lighting Up a Brighter Future
A Catalyst article about devising better, more energy-efficient lighting. In particular the article focuses on LEDs. Like food, water, clothing and shelter, light is essential to daily life and is needed by most people for most of their waking hours. The article explains how LEDs work and how they are made. This article is from…
Regulations for F1 Challenge
This PDF file from F1 in schools covers the Rules & Regulations 2010/11 Championship Season. The rationale behind the challenge, how to get started, the materials and processes required are thoroughly described. Schools will need to acquaint themselves fully with these regulations if they wish to participate in the challenge…
Design and Technology - Specification
In this session, students start to plan the creation of their team’s car by writing a specification for its design. Before starting the brief for their own car, students are encouraged to use the “Guess the function” activity from F1 in schools Curriculum Resource to relate function and form. From this starting…
.jpg)
Design Engineer: Chris Robbins
This STEMNET resource describes the background and career of STEM Ambassador Chris Robbins, a design engineer and Director of a small independent consultancy. Chris uses maths to help companies solve problems by developing mathematical models and associated software to help select appropriate materials and processes. After gaining…
Reusing Textiles: Waste to Wear
In this activity, from Practical Action, students are challenged to design and make a good quality textiles product from some throwaway textiles collected from home or bought from a charity shop. Further resources are available from the Practical Action’s Sustainable Design and Technology database.
Filter results by...
Subject
- Science (14)
- Chemistry (1)
- Physics (1)
- How science works (4)
- Practical work (1)
- Enquiries & investigations (1)
- Technology (78)
- Control systems (1)
- Electronics (9)
- Food technology (5)
- Graphics (7)
- Product design (78) Close
- Resistant materials (4)
- Textiles (7)
- Design skills (21)
- Engineering (14)
- Mathematics (2)
- Careers (3)
- Computer Science (1)
Publication year
Type
Publisher
- Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire (1)
- Catalyst (10)
- CIEC Promoting Science (1)
- Department for Education (1)
- F1 in Schools (2)
- Gatsby Science Enhancement Programme (10)
- Innovate Educate (1)
- James Dyson Foundation (12)
- Nuffield Foundation (33)
- Practical Action (6)
- Royal Academy of Engineering (1)
- STEMNET (2)
- Teachers TV (2)
- Technology Enhancement Programme (7)
- Waste Watch (1)