Key Stage 3 STEM resources and activities

Climate change: our environment

This combined resource contains worksheets for several topics within the curriculum relating to:

• Weather and climate
• Population, including urban environments
• Pollution
• Sustainable growth and technology.

This can be used as part of a geography lesson, as well as discussions on the environment, climate change, population growth and future technology.

• Climate Change: our environment - Teachers' Notes
• Climate Change: our environment - Student Worksheets
• Taster- Student Activity Sheet
• Taster- Teachers Notes
• Taster- Presentation

Green city

Support your teaching of climate change with our Green City interactive game. Players are challenged with managing air quality levels in their Green City over a seven day period by using a range of air quality sensors and measures, while also managing public happiness and business satisfaction levels.

Play

Smart infrastructure

Our SMART Infrastructure module addresses how Siemens technology helps us work SMARTer, therefore reducing our carbon footprint. Learn about :

• Sustainable cities
• Decarbonisation
• Being a green leader

Explore

The wildlife trusts - one earth

Siemens and The Wildlife Trusts aim to help students learn more about their environment and the affects that human actions can have. By sharing the expertise of our partner charity and using Siemens’ technological know-how on sustainability and other topics, the resource will help students see that the issues are interconnected and demonstrate how possible solutions benefit both humanity and nature.

• The Wildlife Trusts - Teachers' Notes
• The Wildlife Trusts - Carbon Lesson Powerpoint
• The Wildlife Trusts - Water Lesson Powerpoint
• The Wildlife Trusts - Urban Lesson Powerpoint

Cybersecurity challenge

The Cybersecurity Challenge supports the computer science curriculum. The challenge is designed to familiarise students with cybersecurity, to enhance their safety online and to improve their knowledge and understanding of risks to their personal online security. Students will develop an understanding of security logs such as passwords and how they can be used to spot fraudulent behaviour on a network.

• Cybersecurity Challenge - Teachers' notes
• Cybersecurity Challenge - Student Mission
• Challenge 1 - Find the security breach
• Challenge 2 - Confirming the culprit
• Challenge 3 - Secure the evidence
• Challenge 4 - Find the criminals location
• Cyber Security - Take home activity
• Cybersecurity evidence - Invoice 875 no password
• Taster Cybersecurity Student Activity
• Taster Cybersecurity Teachers Notes
• Taster Cybersecurity Presentation

Cybersecurity Challenge Game

Bring your teaching to life with this virtual encryption challenge and quiz. Put the learning from the Cybersecurity Challenge into practice and support your students to learn how they can fight cybercrime.

Play

Digital Industries

Explore our Digital Industries resources which introduce key areas of the Siemens business:

• Cybersecurity
• Internet of Things
• Digital Twins

This resource supports careers and digital skills as well as important human skills for future jobs.

Explore

Driverless car challenge

The Siemens Driverless Car Challenge supports the computer science curriculum. Contextualising robotics as part of the future strive towards autonomous vehicle technology, this resource consists of three classroom activities used in conjunction with the micro:bit programming platform.In this guide you will find the necessary notes to deliver introductory robotics learning in a variety of contexts, with or without having vehicles of your own.

• Driverless Car Challenge - Teachers' notes
• Driverless Car Challenge - Student Introduction
• Driverless Car Challenge - Student Challenge
• Driverless Car Challenge - Route A
• Driverless Car Challenge - Route B
• Driverless Car Challenge - Route C
• Driverless Car Challenge - Printable map
• Taster- Student Activity Sheet
• Taster- Teachers Notes
• Taster- Presentation

Driverless car game

Bring your teaching to life with this interactive game, The Driverless Car Challenge, which acts as a virtual introduction to the resource and can be used in conjunction with the micro:bit focussed activities or as a stand-alone activity.

Play

Designing the future

This resource uses Siemens NX software to introduce students to the concepts of design, as well as instructions on how to follow the full Design, Engineer, Build concept using classroom resources. Concepts covered include:

• Product Lifecycle Management (PLM)
• Computer-Aided Design (CAD)
• Digital Modelling
• Digital Manufacturing in the classroom
• Designing The Future - Teachers' notes
• Product Lifecycle Management and CAD
• PLM and CAD supporting PowerPoint
• Digital Modelling
• Digital Modelling supporting PowerPoint
• Digital Manufacturing in the Classroom
• Digital Manufacturing supporting PowerPoint

Designing the future game

Support the learning from the Designing The Future resource with this interactive game where students meet the people and careers invovled in designing, manufacturing, quality testing and distributing products.

Play

Digital twinning

Linking to both the Science and Design and Technology KS3 curricula, these resources explore how Digital Twinning supports engineering and design concepts in an economical and sustainable way. Other concepts include:

• Forces and movement
• Aerodynamics
• Four Forces of Flight
• Digital Twinning - Teacher's Notes
• Digital Twinning - Student Worksheet
• Digital Twinning - Challenge PowerPoint
• Taster- Student Activity
• Taster- Teachers Notes
• Taster- Presentation

Digital twinning game

Students can demonstrate knowledge and learning through learning how Digital Twinning makes the engineering design process more sustainable by building and testing their own Digital Twin car in this interactive game!

Play

Energy farm

The Energy Farm resources introduce students to the opportunities and challenges presented by different energy generation technologies. Explore different power generation methods and learn how a mixture of energy sources support a working farm.

• Energy Farm - Teachers' Notes
• Energy Farm - Supporting PowerPoint
• Energy Farm - Student Worksheet
• Taster- Student Activity
• Taster- Teachers Notes
• Taster- Presentation

Energy farm game

Test your students' learning with this challenge where students are required to implement an energy system that meets the demand of a working farm, whilst minimising the cost and environmental impact.

Play

Energy island

This resource introduces students to energy transfer, renewable energy and the complexities of power supply for an island, taking into account the challenges and limitations of different energy sources. Energy types covered include:

• Wind, including offshore
• Biomass
• Photovoltaics
• Tidal
• Natural Gas
• Coal
• Energy Island - Teachers' Notes
• Energy Island - Supporting PowerPoint
• Energy Island - Student Worksheet
• Energy Island - Island in the Wind Video
• Taster- Student Activity Sheet
• Taster- Teachers Notes
• Taster- Presentation

Energy island game

This resouce can be used in conjunction with the Energy Island resources. Students are challenged to utilise different types of energy to run an island, taking into consideration different fuels, geographical features and demands.

Play

The Monte Rosa mountain hut

The resource is based on a real-life project about designing, engineering and constructing a building in a unique geographical location. Students are asked to consider how to gather, display data and interpret it to explain energy transfer and efficiency, as well as applying concepts of energy transfer and conservation to building design and design solutions to meet various characteristics of a given brief.

• Monte Rosa Mountain Hut - Teachers' Notes
• Monte Rosa Mountain Hut - Supporting PowerPoint
• Monte Rosa Mountain Hut - A Hut Haven
• Taster Monte Rosa Mountain Hut Student Activity
• Taster Monte Rosa Mountain Hut Teachers Notes
• Taster Monte Rosa Mountain Hut Presentation

Here comes the sun - solar energy

Focusing on photovoltaics and solar energy, these resources support the teacher and understanding of the process of energy transfer, explaining the operation of internal combustion and photovoltaic cells. Knowledge is also applied to the sustainability of this technology and how renewable energy can be future-proofed.

• Here comes the sun - Teachers' notes
• Here comes the sun - Supporting PowerPoint
• Here comes the sun - Student Worksheet
• Here comes the sun - Abuja - My City video
• Here comes the sun - The Last Flower video
• Here Comes the Sun - Photovoltaics video
• Taster Here Comes the Sun Student Activity
• Taster Here Comes the Sun Teachers Notes
• Taster Here Comes the Sun Presentation

Infinity STARship

The Infinity STARship is a novel and engaging virtual spaceship environment which provides an immersive gateway to actvities and resources. Content may be useful to support lessons or provide students with independent study opportunities.

• Infinity STARship
• Infinity STARship teachers notes

Wind turbines

Resources to discuss the positives and negatives of renewable energy, specifically wind power. Through the resources students are asked to gather and use data to support conclusions relating to energy efficiency and arguments about noise pollution, as well as using ideas to inform discussions about overall power supply systems and judge impact of design on the environment and communities.

• Wind Turbines - Teachers' Notes
• Wind Turbines - Supporting PowerPoint
• Wind Turbines - Student Worksheet
• Wind Turbines - My Energy: Siemens in South Africa video

Electrical conductors

Learn about electrical conductors and insulators in these Greenpower resources!Key learning points include:

• Understand the difference between an electrical conductor and insulator
• Understand related scientific terminology
• Understand different materials have different resistivity to the flow of current
• Cross-section area and length are key factors in the resistance of a component
• Suitable design can reduce energy losses
• Electrical Conductors - Teachers' notes
• Electrical Conductors - Student worksheet (differing abilities)
• Electrical Conductors - PowerPoint
• Electrical Conductors - Student Homework
• Electrical Conductors - Student Homework Answers
• Electrical Conductors Video (Sorcerer's Apprentice Scene)

Friction

The following Greenpower resources provide teaching guides, student worksheets and videos all about friction. Activities can be differentiated for standard, in-depth and advanced levels.

• What is friction
• How is friction effected by surface materials
• Friction and lubrication
• Friction is use and where it is unwelcome
• Friction - Teachers' notes
• Friction - Student Worksheet (differing abilities)
• Friction - PowerPoint
• Friction Video - Guy Martin vs David Coulthard
• Friction Video - Lorry on Ice

Gears and Levers

Learn all about gears and levers in these resources developed with Greenpower. They include a classroom presentation, guides for teachers and students, and a homework activity to review knowledge.Topics covered include:

• How levers work
• How gears work
• How teeth count affects gear wheel movement
• Force and distance magnifiers
• Torque
• Gears and Levers - Teachers' notes
• Gears and Levers - PowerPoint
• Gears and Levers - Student Worksheet
• Gears and Levers - Homework Activity
• Gears and Levers - Homework Answers

The greenpower challenge

The Greenpower Challenge, an initiative of The Greenpower Education Trust, is supported by Siemens and promotes sustainable engineering to young people through a design, test, build format in competitive racing. Using battery powered cars, there is an emphasis on green skills and energy.

• The Greenpower Challenge - Teachers' Notes
• The Greenpower Challenge - Supporting PowerPoint
• The Greenpower Challenge - Student Worksheet

Hybrid urban buses

Explore the challenges facing bus designers when producing a bus for an urban environment. The resources allow investigation into how different solutions can be identified and evaluated, as well as collaborating to present recommendations for an effective solution to develop knowledge and presentation skills.

• Hybrid Urban Buses - Teachers' Notes
• Hybrid Urban Buses - Supporting PowerPoint
• Hybrid Urban Buses - Student Worksheet
• Hybrid Urban Buses - Leon's London
• Hybrid Urban Buses - Hybrid in Hanoi

Light bulb technology - I can see clearly now

This topic is about the effective use of low energy light bulbs and how they enable safety and efficiency. The first episode sets the scene by showing how lighting is not only a technical process but has a social impact too. It then presents students with the challenge of finding the best way of producing cheap and even illumination over an area whilst addressing different light bulb technologies.

• I Can See Clearly Now - Teachers' Notes
• I Can See Clearly Now - Supporting PowerPoint
• I Can See Clearly Now - Student Worksheet
• I Can See Clearly now - Automated Zebra Crossing video

MRI experience

Help your students to develop their understanding of the purpose of medical imaging, MRI imaging in particular, and help them to understand how science and technology is used every day to improve the lives of billions of people.This lesson plan encourages pupils to learn more about what MRI imaging is, what it does, why it is useful and what it is like to have a scan.

• MRI Experience - Teachers' notes
• MRI Experience - PowerPoint

Now hear this

In this resource, students will learn about loudness, frequency and the process of hearing. They will aim to explain how the human ear works and responds to different sound intensities and frequencies. Finally, students will be challenges to develop a design for a hearing aid, demonstrating how it allows for a range of design requirements.

• Now Hear This Scheme of Work
• Now Hear This Worksheet
• Now Hear This Lesson Plan

Formula For Thrills

This resource encourages students to imagine how real-life mathematical thinking is used by the engineers, designers, mechanics and planners whose job it is to entertain and thrill people, whilst also keeping them safe and at theme parks.

• Teachers Notes and Worksheet
• Answer Sheet
• Formula For Thrills Interactive Game

Sequence commands - totally in control

This resource teaches how sequences of commands can be used to run equipment and how logic operation can respond to inputs and control outputs both in an industrial, public and home setting. Topics covered include:

• Circuits and energy transducers
• Command sequences using Logic to control inputs and outputs
• Manual and Automation control
• Totally in control - Teachers' Notes
• Totally in control - Supporting PowerPoint
• Totally in control - Student Worksheet
• Oktoberfest – Emperors Video

Sound waves and pictures

Resources covering the measurement of frequency and waves to develop a sense of scale and proportion. Concepts include understanding sound, ultrasound and their benefits to the world, including audio, digital music and medical imaging.

• Sound Waves and Pictures - Teachers' Notes
• Sound Waves and Pictures - Supporting PowerPoint
• Sound Waves and Pictures - Student Worksheet

Speed

Produced in partnership with Greenpower, these resources cover speed and the following elements:

• Recording speed in a range of units which can be inter-converted
• Instantaneous speed is the speed over a short time period
• Average speed is the speed for a whole journey
• The calculation of speed, distance and time
• Speed - Teachers' notes
• Speed - PowerPoint
• Speed - Student Worksheet
• Speed - Student Homework
• Speed - Siemens Safezones Project

Water, water, everywhere

Water is essential to life. Some places on earth have too much, others too little. These resources address the production of clean, safe drinking water for countries where water is a precious resource. The following concepts are covered:

• Solubility
• Separation techniques and their application
• Water purification and quality control
• Water, water, everywhere - Teachers' Notes
• Water, water, everywhere - Supporting PowerPoint
• Water, water, everywhere - Student Worksheet
• Water, water, everywhere - Waiting for Water Video
• Water, water, everywhere - Thirsty Strawberries Video