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STEM activities for National Inventors’ Day

National Inventors’ Day is on 11 February and we have free STEM teaching resources for children aged 11-16.

Download our curriculum-linked step-by-step guides, watch the videos with your KS3 and KS4 class and let their inner inventor develop. And don’t forget to download our free posters for the classroom, along with certificates to celebrate achievement. 

Projects include team work and topical issue discussions as students design, make and create items from home or school.

Learn about magnetism by designing a hoverboard, discuss the design of a step counter from the perspective of the engineer and the customer, make a series of electronic circuits of increasing complexity by designing and making a solar powered night-light circuit, and plenty more.

We’re sure there will be something for all those aspiring young inventors to work on whether at home or at school. 

Download all resources for free below and please do share your creations with us @IETeducation!

Please note, these resources and experiments have been specifically designed to be carried out with adult supervision or direction as appropriate, and it is recommended that the instructions are followed in a safe manner. All resources and experiments are carried out at your own risk.

Designing a hoverboard

Design a levitating hoverboard that works using magnetism.

Go to Designing a hoverboard

Pedometer design

Discuss the design of a step counter from the perspective of the engineer and the customer.

Go to Step counter design

Make a night-light circuit

Design and make a solar powered night-light circuit.

Go to Make a night-light circuit

Tool holder design

Design a tool holder for a surgical robot.

Go to Tool holder design

Eco-inventor challenge

Using a cardboard box of any size, we challenge you to get creative and bring one of your ideas to life, or go a step further and invent your own project.

Go to Discover your inner inventor

IET Faraday® DIY Challenge Day

Take part in your very own IET Faraday® DIY Challenge Day! Break the activity down to make it fit with your school life or home learning schedule, choosing a theme that suits you.

Go to IET Faraday® DIY Challenge Day

3D printing

Looking at the 3D printing process and how it can be used to make everyday objects.

Go to file:///C:/Users/hmargerison-smith/Downloads/3d-printing.pdf

Electronics innovations timeline poster

Electronics innovations through the ages.

Go to file:///C:/Users/hmargerison-smith/Downloads/electronics-innovations-timeline.pdf

Modelling methods

Find out how designers use models to understand how their ideas will look and function.

Go to file:///C:/Users/hmargerison-smith/Downloads/modelling-methods.pdf

Find inspiring inventors and their stories below...

Christine Tan

As a child, Christine loved playing with mechanical toys and science experiments, always dreaming up her next invention. Find out which career path she followed in our 'Look at me now' story.

Go to Christine Tan

Kobe Yung

When he was little, Kobe always dreamt of becoming a super inventor, creating all kinds of buildings and machinery. See what happened next in his 'Look at me now' profile.

Go to Kobe Yung

Larissa Suzuki

Dr Larissa Suzuki is a passionate computer scientist, inventor and engineer. Find out what her role entails in her unique story. Will you follow in her footsteps?

Go to Larissa Suzuki

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Find more free secondary resources

Go to Secondary