Energy Quest practical lesson
Energy Quest is a 1-hour immersive lesson for students aged 11 to 13, designed to unlock their inner engineer as they explore alternative energy sources.
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Energy Quest
Students 'act like an engineer’ in Energy Quest, working together to generate energy, make clean water, or design a shelter
The Neon quality mark shows this activity has been reviewed and meets Neon's quality standards.
Overview
Energy Quest is a set of curriculum aligned workshops for 11 to 13 year olds that introduce students to the concept of 'acting like an engineer’. Based around an overarching real-life scenario, students work in teams and use problem solving skills and their science knowledge to take on 3 challenges:
- Making a fruit battery
- Building a basic water filtration system
- Designing thermal insulation
The scenario provides context for each of the challenges, encouraging students to work together to solve the problems as a team.
As a teacher-led, flexible programme, Energy Quest allows teachers to adapt the workshops to their needs. The hands-on practical challenges use equipment which should be available in all school laboratories and can be delivered individually as separate sessions or run together in groups. Teachers are supported to run the workshops with downloadable resources, videos and a lesson presentation.
Energy Quest's practical experiments and design exercises help students understand more about different kinds of engineering and the roles of different engineers. This is a great way for students to apply their learning to think of the kind of careers they could look forward to in the future – especially those they may never have even considered.
The Energy Quest programme and resources are provided free of charge.
Details
- School subject
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- Chemistry
- Design and technology
- Engineering
- Physics
- Curriculum links
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- Engineering
- Biology: Material cycles and energy
- Physics: Energy
- Technologies - Craft, design, engineering and graphics: Application of engineering
- Sciences - Planet earth: Energy sources and sustainability
- Sciences - Planet earth
- Design thinking and engineering: Engineering
- Physics: Energy transfer
- Technology & design - Manufacturing
- Sciences - Earth and universe: The environment and human influences
- Sciences - Forces and energy
- Group size
- Whole class
- Participation level
- Hands-on
- Duration
- Half day
- Cost
- Free
- Location
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In-school
- UK-wide
Learning outcomes
- Improve engagement, interest or enjoyment in STEM subjects
- Attainment and progress
- Develop engineering employability skills
- Improve awareness and aspirations for STEM-related study and careers
- Challenge stereotypes by showing the diversity of disciplines, people and skills involved in engineering
Frameworks
Gatsby benchmarks
The Gatsby benchmarks are a framework for good careers guidance for schools across all of England and in some areas across the rest of the UK. This experience helps your school to reach the following benchmarks:
- 2 - Learning from career and labour market information
- 3 - Addressing the needs of each pupil
- 4 - Linking curriculum learning to careers
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
- 7 - An outcomes-focused enrichment offer
- 5 - An accessible and engagement enrichment offer
How to book
No need to book - explore the resources below.
Associated resources
Energy Quest practical lesson - Welsh language version
Energy Quest is a 1-hour immersive lesson for students aged 11 to 13, designed to unlock their inner engineer as they explore alternative energy sources.
View Resource