STEM Projects

'The colourful and accessible project cards include learning objectives and a learning task that is provocative, practical and perfect for inspiring collaboration, critical thinking and enquiry. Written design process steps are helpfully integrated, along with engaging graphics to inspire pupils.'

John Dabell, Writer and Editor - Read the full review here.

STEM Category Winner

Teach Primary Awards 2019

This is an exciting resource which spans from EYFS to UKS2. Each box is full of 28 STEM Projects split into biological, chemical, environmental and physical sciences. Key learning intentions are signposted for teachers, so it is clear which elements of the National Curriculum they are covering.

Judge, Teach Primary Awards 2019

The STEM Projects series provides opportunities for pupils to creatively apply skills and knowledge in science; craft, design and engineering; numeracy and mathematics; and digital technology, whilst completing short- or long-term projects.

Each STEM Projects series box contains a set of cards on a range of topics linked to the National Curriculum for Science and the Curriculum for Excellence in Scotland (links below as pdf download), but their variety also allows them to be successfully incorporated into a cross-curricular approach to topic teaching.

Each topic contains key learning objectives and covers contemporary environmental themes such as recycling and horticulture.

What is STEM Education?

STEM education is an innovative approach to teaching that integrates science, technology, engineering and mathematics. STEM learning focuses on real-world applications of science and mathematics, encouraging creativity and problem-solving.

This approach has been found to be effective in engaging pupils with traditionally tricky subjects, and also has the added benefit of preparing them for careers in a wide range of STEM-related fields.

How the STEM Projects series works

The STEM Projects series helps pupils to develop their understanding of STEM concepts through engaging, hands-on activities.

Each box contains a set of cards with related activities that can be used for modelling STEM in the classroom. They are designed to help primary school pupils learn about STEM in an engaging way by providing them with the necessary tools needed for experimentation and exploration.

The activities are designed to be fun, interactive and relevant to pupils’ lives. For example, in one activity pupils may learn about how plants grow by replicating the process in their own home or garden.

Download a free sample

The STEM Projects series covers four areas, incorporating science, engineering, technology, maths, earth sciences and computer skills:

Biological Sciences
Chemical Sciences
Environmental Sciences
Physical Science

Each STEM Projects series box includes:

Two introductory cards explaining STEM education, including: time allocations for using the cards; tips for planning, differentiating, assessing and supporting teaching and learning; and classroom and resource management ideas;
One card with icons, explaining each step of the designing and making process, in child-friendly language;
One card explaining each science strand; how the projects can be linked to craft, design and engineering;
Numeracy and mathematics; and digital technology; and providing an overview of each project contained within the strand, including the task and specific design and technology strands of learning;
Six short-term projects and one long-term project covering living things, energy and forces, materials, and earth and the environment; and
Six copies of each project to allow for small-group use.

Download the National Curriculum links here

Download the Scotland Curriculum for Excellence links here

Real-world applications of STEM concepts

The STEM Projects series encourages learners to explore real-world applications of science and mathematics. The series encourages children to think critically about STEM topics in relation to real-world scenarios.

By making connections between what they are learning in class and its everyday uses, children are inspired to think more deeply about STEM topics. This helps to build pupils' confidence to carry out experiments with an understanding of their outcomes.

Teaching STEM in Your Classroom

There are many different ways to incorporate STEM projects into your classroom.

Dedicated classroom STEM lessons: One model is to allow a period of lesson time each week for pupils to work on a STEM project. This could also be during lunchtime, after school or even in between lessons.
Whole school STEM Days: Another model is a dedicated STEM Day in which the class, year group or whole school takes part in focused STEM learning. These can be particularly useful at the beginning or end of a school year as they provide an opportunity for all pupils to get involved and learn something new.

When choosing projects, it is important to select ones that complement the areas of science you are already teaching.

This will ensure that pupils can apply their newly acquired skills and knowledge to familiar topics.
It will also make it easier for you to integrate the projects into your existing lesson plans.

By taking advantage of these models, you can easily bring STEM Projects into your classroom and provide your pupils with an engaging and hands-on learning experience.

Explore how to use STEM in your classroom

Amazing STEM activities children will love

The series provides pupils with a variety of creative opportunities to explore science, technology, engineering and mathematics concepts. Here are just a few highlights of the series.

Biological Sciences

Miniature Worm Farm: Design and make a miniature worm farm.
Human Movement Video: Design and make a video that names and demonstrates different types of human movement.
Raising a Radish: Design and make a garden to grow a radish from seed to harvest.

Chemical Sciences

Pirate Ship: Design and make a pirate ship that floats in water.
Bubble Wands: Design and make a set of bubble wands from pipe cleaners to blow bubbles with.
Ice Sculpture: Design and make an ice sculpture by freezing water into different shapes.

Environmental Sciences

Water Slides: Design and make a water slide that carries two people-figurines safely down the slide and into a small pool.
National Park: Design and make a model of a national park using air-dry clay.
Soil Erosion Demonstrator: Make a soil erosion demonstrator using recycled plastic bottles.

Physical Sciences

Marble Maze Game: Design and make a cardboard maze game that works by tilting a box.
Stringed Instruments: Design and make a stringed instrument for each group member to make music for people to listen to.
Hoverboard Model: Design and make a hoverboard model using the science of magnetic repulsion.

Benefits of the STEM Projects series

The series offers a unique opportunity for pupils to explore science, technology, engineering and mathematics through engaging STEM activities and science experiments.

This series can help pupils:

Learn about the real-world applications of STEM concepts, such as robotics and coding, which are essential skills for understanding our increasingly complex global economy.
Develop their problem-solving and critical thinking skills – essential attributes needed for future careers in STEM fields.

Benefits for teachers and educators:

The projects and science experiments are designed with teachers and the curriculum in mind.
Each lesson plan is accompanied by detailed instructions on how to conduct each project safely and effectively.
Lesson materials, activities, and worksheets to make assessment easy are also included.

The STEM Projects series will help primary school teachers gain a greater understanding of the principles behind each project, providing children with a better insight into how science can be used in real-life applications.