Flood defence

A set of printable resources and guidance notes giving teachers and technicians the basic ingredients to run their very own Faraday Challenge Day. This cross-curricular activity day brings science, design and technology, engineering, maths and computing together in an engaging way.

The context of the challenge

Over the past few years the UK has seen unprecedented flood levels across a range of urban areas, including Yorkshire, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Hampshire as well as large areas of Wales and Northern Ireland.

The Environment Agency says:

• Flooding happens naturally and cannot be completely avoided
• Around five million people, in two million properties, live in flood risk areas in England and Wales
• Changes in climate, such as more severe storms and wetter winters, will increase that risk

They estimate that over the next 80 years we will need to spend £22 to £75 billion on flood defences in England and Wales to combat the effects of climate change.

The vast majority of these people live on the edges of the flood risk areas and therefore are unlikely to be in a position of having their houses completely devastated by incoming water. Many people will however, have water that seeps into their homes, and the ability to move water quickly will help them reduce damage.

Activity info and teachers' notes

In the Flood Defence challenge, students work in teams to design and make a prototype of a simple device, that will allow homeowners to remove water from their homes, during periods of flooding.

Designed for six teams of six students (36 students in total) aged 12 – 13 years (year 8, and equivalent), the challenge encourages the development of students’ problem solving, team working and communication skills. This activity day can be tailored to the needs of your school and your students by adapting the PowerPoint presentation and the editable student booklet.

What's included?

The complete set of downloadable materials includes:

• Teachers' pack
  A list of the practical materials needed, presenters’ notes highlighting key areas and reinforcing key themes throughout the day, some handy hints on how to deliver the day . . . plus printable Faradays currency and student certificates.
• Student booklet
  Available as an editable MSWord document to allow the booklet to be adapted to meets the needs of your students and your school.
• PowerPoint presentation
  A step-by-step guide for your students throughout the day, with supporting notes for the delivery of the presentation.
• Film clip
  Full briefing video introducing the challenge to your students.

Remember, it’s all free! ...and registration is free too!

All online resources (including film clips!) are free to download, and the student booklet and PowerPoint presentation are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students' and your schools' needs.

You can stream and download the related film for free by clicking on the appropriate link in the Related resources section below.