Engineering resources for students

Celebrating engineering visionaries

Inspiring creative minds

It goes without saying that this is a time of tremendous uncertainty. Whether it’s travel, food, or work, the Covid-19 pandemic has been a source of significant disruption to people’s routines around the world. We’re certainly not exempt from that.

However, a key aim of the prize has always been to inspire the next generation of engineers and, as a lot of students around the world may be out of school for a while, we wanted to share some resources to help keep them engaged with STEM.

School Resource

This 12-page booklet ­– popular at events ­– teaches students about engineering innovations that have changed the world, the people who made them, and how they work. It contains bespoke graphics throughout and includes some simple activities to keep younger students entertained. You can download the resource by clicking on the button below.

Podcast

At the same time, we also recommend our Create the Future podcast, which we’ve been running since July 2019.

Hosted by former BBC science and environment correspondent Sue Nelson, each episode explores a different area of engineering and bring together the knowledge, experiences, and ideas of leading industry experts with the young engineers who will shape the future.

So far, we’ve explored a myriad of topics from the Moon Landing and artificial intelligence to Lightsabre duels, equal access in cities, Harry Potter, and earthquakes. There’s even a bit about kettles.

We’ve put the podcast on all major platforms but do let us know at [email protected] if there’s another that you’d like for us to put it on!

Engineering: Take a closer look

This site from the UK government has been developed to provide you a closer look at today's engineering - and has information for parents looking for inspiration to share with your children as well as some lesson ideas for teachers.

This is Engineering

Help your children find out how they can follow their passions into a rewarding career in engineering, with inspiring videos featuring movie makers, light painters and robot builders.

Experimental Science

Teacher and parent Alom Shaha has produced a series of short videos which have great ideas for fun, easy to do science activities AND show how you can get the most out of them with your children.

The Maths Factor

An online maths school, with lessons, games and more run by TV’s Carol Vorderman, usually £2 per week but now free for children aged 4-12 until schools reopen.

Boolean Girl

Online events to help teach students to code, build, invent and animate. The events take place every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 3 to 4 p.m. (US EST), introducing engineering and coding projects to increase STEM interest and engagement.

The Kid Should See This

STEAM, history, and culture-focused videos for kids of all ages.

NASA STEM @ Home for Students

STEM articles and activities for ages 9+.

Khan Academy

A nonprofit educational organisation that offers free courses for children and adults at all learning levels. Also includes ‘Imagineering in a Box’ - lessons on theme park design and engineering via Walt Disney Imagineering, Pixar and Khan Academy.

Amazon Future Engineer

Amazon Future Engineer is offering free online computer science classes for any student or teacher affected by school closures due to COVID-19 in the US.

Little Inventors

Turn children's ideas into reality! Supporting creative education and expert making, they ask children to share their ideas with the world.

Scouts The Great Indoors

As the experts in developing skills and bringing adventure to young people, Scouts have pulled together some inspired indoor activity ideas to keep kids learning new skills and having fun. Activities available ages 8-18.

Do Try This at Home

Two cartoon characters, Marvin and Milo demonstrate the fun experiments, which are designed to appeal to children aged 7-11. They include: Alka -Seltzer rockets, magic balloon, making a lava lamp, musical coat hanger, making a foil boat and many more. This resource has been provided by the Institute of Physics.

Science Museum

Explore their collection, complete brain-teasing puzzles or learn about science with this range of science games and apps. There are a range of games suitable for all ages 5 and above.

Little Bins for Little Kids

Easy STEM challenges to do at home, using everyday household objects. These activities are open to all ages, although the creators advise that younger children may need more assistance while older children might choose to work independently.

STEAMsational

STEAMsational offers a great list of 101 fun and hands-on activities for children ages 4-7 as well as a free quick-start guide for teaching STEAM at home.