Engineering activities are basically great excuses to let kids get really hands on, use their imaginations and make things – which is great for homeschooling!
But it’s nice to have a framework to kick imaginations into gear, and to make links to the curriculum to make sure they don’t fall behind in their schooling – so here in follows just a few great resources you could set your class whilst they’re stuck at home.
- Aerospace Bristol have launched ‘At Home with Aerospace Bristol‘ to support families during this crisis – they have a variety of activites for different ages and a chance to explore the region’s aerospace heritage (that’s history covered!)
- another great local resource (with links to history, literacy and maths) is ssGreat Britain’s Learning Centre – with creative activities and a great online game
- Challenge your kids to answer the question, “If you were an engineer, what would you do?” and enter their colourful and descriptive entries (that’s writing and art thrown in) into the Leaders Award nationwide competition
- A really engaging option is to watch the engineering activties Bitz and Bob get up to on Cbeebies (11min) and then the follow up with the companion video that shows you how to do the activity in real-life
- The Technology for Fun site has downloadable resources, to help guide the making of loads of different stuff (and each “make” is curriculum linked)
- Engineering.gov have loads of ideas, from hero aptitude tests, to clear teacher lesson plans for running activities – see what you can use for home-schooling!
And why not give your class insight into what engineers really are:
- get them to watch this short EngineEars video below
- find some interviews with engineers on the Leaders Award YouTube channel
- Find short Engineer on a Mission videos on Tomorrow’s Engineer Website
- or get them to take Engineering UK’s – Meet the Future You quiz to really open up their eyes to how their skills and interests may fit into future careers (plus it’s fun!)
