CREST Star
A collection of relevant and fun student-led STEM challenges, developed by the British Science Association, that encourage and support children to explore the world around them.
The Neon quality mark shows this activity has been reviewed and meets Neon's quality standards.
Overview
This collection of engaging, hands-on STEM projects allow children to explore everyday problems using science. Each challenge begins with a story linked to a broader situation that children are likely to be familiar with, giving every project a powerful, real-world context and allowing students to make links with their own lives and experiences.
Every CREST Star project gives children the chance to explore a question or an idea and develop their own hands-on, practical investigation. They are encouraged to think about how to test their ideas, as well as how to record their results and share their findings. The activities are designed to promote the skills needed for independent working, decision making, discussion and communication from a young age.
CREST Star projects cover a broad range of scientific concepts as well as investigative skills and can be used during STEM enrichment activities or to enhance curriculum learning.
Each project takes between 45 minutes and an hour to complete and comes with an organiser’s card as well as a student activity card.
Cost
The resources are free to use and download from the CREST online library.
Pupils who complete at least six activities can earn a Star CREST Award, receiving a certificate to celebrate their achievement! Some schools are eligible for funded Awards through grants or voucher codes. All other UK schools can receive theirs for a small cost, from £1 per pupil.
Details
- Curriculum links
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- England primary science curriculum: Animals, including humans
- England primary science curriculum: Living things and their habitats
- Scotland primary science curriculum: Sciences
- Northern Ireland primary science curriculum: Science and technology
- Wales primary science curriculum : The world around us
- Biology: Structure and function of living organisms
- Engineering
- Physics
- Physics: Waves
- Biology
- Physics: Motion and forces
- Sciences - Planet earth: Biodiversity and interdependence
- Technologies - Craft, design, engineering and graphics: Application of engineering
- Sciences - Forces, electricity and waves
- Sciences - Forces, electricity and waves: Vibrations and waves
- Sciences - Planet earth
- Sciences - Forces, electricity and waves: Forces
- Design thinking and engineering: Engineering
- Physics: Forces
- Sciences - Organisms and health: Interdependence of plants and animals
- Technology & design - Manufacturing
- Sciences - Forces and energy: Sound and light
- Sciences - Earth and universe
- Sciences - Forces and energy: Forces and energy transfer
- Group size
- Small groups, Whole class
- Participation level
- Hands-on
- Duration
- Up to an hour
- Cost
- Free
- Location
- Online
Learning outcomes
- Improve engagement, interest or enjoyment in STEM subjects
- Attainment and progress
- Develop engineering employability skills
Frameworks
EqualEx
- Introduce and Inspire
Essential skills
The essential skills every young person needs to succeed in education and their future career. Find out more at the Skills Builder Partnership. This experience builds the following skills:
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Enrichment framework
- 5 - An accessible and engagement enrichment offer
- 7 - An outcomes-focused enrichment offer
