Material investigators presentation
Use this presentation to lead pupils through the challenge, providing step-by-step instructions for investigating the strength of corrugated cardboard planks and designing their own innovative material.
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Material investigators: Delivery guide
A brief teacher's guide outlining the challenge background, required equipment, and tips for using the resources effectively. This challenge focuses on 'materials' and provides real-world context for the curriculum topic of 'properties of materials.'
Daily science energisers (primary)
Daily 15-min STEM challenges for 7-11 year olds, around the theme of change and adapt; perfect for energising a science week.
Women and girls in science primary assembly
Use this assembly to showcase varied female scientists of the past and present. Pupils’ stereotypes of scientists will be challenged, whilst they are inspired to think about their own dreams and aspirations.
Celebrating women engineers primary poster
Challenge stereotypes and inspire your pupils with this informative, visual poster celebrating the achievements of women engineers.
Growing into adults (life-cycles) poster
Develop understanding of animal life-cycles with this 2-page poster about how animals grow from babies to adults.
Material investigators: Skills and knowledge self-check
Pupils use this activity sheet to demonstrate what's they've learnt during the challenge.
Material investigators: Design your own material
Pupils can use this sheet to record their creative ideas for a new material, that can be used in the building industry and beyond.
Material investigators: Which plank is strongest (direction of layers)
Step-by-step instructions on how to carry out an investigation to answer the question: How does the direction of layers affect the strength of a cardboard plank?
Material investigators: Which plank is strongest (number of layers)
Step-by-step instructions on how to carry out an investigation to answer the question: How does the number of layers affect the strength of a cardboard plank?
Material investigators: Plan an investigation sheet
Pupils can use this sheet to plan and record their own investigations into the strength of corrugated, cardboard planks.
Meet a research technologist video (ages 9-11)
Meet Hannah, a research technologist. Discover her career path, favorite parts of the job, required skills, and key responsibilities.
Meet an apprentice research technologist video (ages 9-11)
Will is an apprentice research technologist. Find out about his career path and what he enjoys most about his job. Discover the skills and qualifications required, as well as the responsibilities.
2025 resource planners
See all Energising Futures resources, sorted by topic, for your age group to easily integrate them into your planning for 2025.
5 resources
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Science advent calendar 2024 (primary)
Countdown to Christmas with the 2024 science advent calendar featuring a daily science quiz, 10-minute science activities, cracker jokes and science keywords, plus links to resources for diving deeper!
Interactive science advent calendar 2024!
Countdown to Christmas with this fun interactive, science advent calendar
2 resources
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Volunteering session: Teacher guide
Get involved with the STEM volunteering scheme and invite a volunteer into your school. Careers education is all about showing young people different paths to success and the variety of options available.
Spooky Halloween science quiz
Bring science alive with Halloween-themed quiz. With spooktacular questions and ghoulish fun-facts, there is something for the whole class to enjoy!
Celebrating black scientists poster (primary)
Use this 2-page poster to inspire primary pupils with the work of black scientists across past and present day.
Fashion fixers challenge: Primary
This real-world challenge dives into the world of fast fashion and its environmental impact. The perfect range of activities for engaging pupils in conversations around sustainability, science and the choices we make every day.
5 resources
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Super scientist: Nzambi Matee
Learn how this Kenyan material engineer and inventor, used her knowledge of materials to recycle plastic into building bricks, and help her community at the same time!
4 resources
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Nzambi Matee life story quiz
Ten-question quiz about the life, career and achievements of material engineer, inventor and super scientist Nzambi Matee, for use with the life story sheet.
Nzambi Matee: A world without plastic activity sheet
Pupils develop science and creativity skills as they identify everyday plastic objects, suggest alternative materials and write creatively about a world without plastic.
The story of Nzambi Matee presentation
Use this presentation to find out about the life, career and achievements of material engineer, inventor and super scientist Nzambi Matee.
Nzambi Matee life story sheet
Simple information sheet describing the life, career and achievements of material engineer, inventor and super scientist Nzambi Matee.
Science in stories: Three Little Pigs
Learn about the different properties of materials though the popular children's story 'The Three Little Pigs'.
5 resources
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Three Little Pigs: Architects in training (properties of materials)
An interactive presentation that uses this unique sequel to the well-known traditional tale, to teach about the properties of materials in an engaging new way!
Choosing materials activity sheet
Use this activity sheet, part of the Science in stories: Three Little Pigs lesson, to record ideas about the best materials to use for each part of a house.
Properties of materials match-up card game
Match each word describing the property of a material to its correct definition, with this match-up card game
Which materials are good insulators? record sheet
Use this activity sheet to record results while investigating which materials are the best insulators.