{"id":2989,"date":"2022-02-02T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-02-02T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/happy-northcutt.194-164-31-150.plesk.page\/engineering-activities-for-the-classroom\/"},"modified":"2025-05-21T15:11:34","modified_gmt":"2025-05-21T15:11:34","slug":"engineering-activities-for-the-classroom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/optimistic-solomon.194-164-31-150.plesk.page\/?p=2989","title":{"rendered":"Engineering Activities for the Classroom"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"STEM<\/p>\n

\u200b<\/span>To commemorate National Apprenticeship Week, we wanted to <\/span>give<\/span><\/span> some inspiration for those lucky enough to teach STEM subjects such as engineering. Teaching is a fascinating and rewarding career, but despite this, it can be challenging at times, especially when it comes to finding fresh <\/span>new <\/span><\/span>ideas to inspire the younger generations. <\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Engaging students in engineering is crucial, as it gives them a better understanding of the science and how it\u2019s beneficial for society. Nurturing and developing students\u2019 interest in engineering should begin in classrooms at an early age. Additionally, it\u2019s vital to make it clear to students that university isn\u2019t the only path and that, as young people, they should keep their options open.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That is why we\u2019re looking into some engineering activities you can use in your classroom to help with lessons and hopefully spark some inspiration in your students to encourage them to continue with their engineering studies and participate in an apprenticeship. We\u2019ll explore various activities that you can do with students of all ages \u2013 let\u2019s take a look.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Team Building Activities<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Group activities have the advantage of teaching students how to work together and use their strengths for the benefit of the team. It also allows them to develop interpersonal skills and self-confidence. For instance, you could have a paper plane contest. Students can create a design of their own or choose an existing one that they think is the fastest; they can then test this, and the plane that flies the furthest wins. Exercises like these help students develop their critical and spatial skills. It\u2019s also an excellent activity for all ages. Primary school-age children will enjoy the excitement of testing their planes and watching them fly, whereas A-Level or high school-age young adults may see it as more of a competition and want to create the most successful design.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"School<\/span><\/p>\n

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Another group activity that often proves successful is an escape room. This trend started with computer and phone games but has evolved into physical spaces. The idea is to place students in a closed room, and they have to solve clues and puzzles to get out. You can even divide students into teams, and the group that escapes the room with the fastest time is the winner.<\/span> Not only is this a fun activity, but it allows students to think rationally, make decisions on the spot, grow their analytical skills, and become more confident in expressing their opinions. So get creative and design the escape room yourself in the classroom, or take it as an exciting opportunity to get out and go on a trip.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Experiments<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Engineering can be a very practical science, so it only stands to reason that students should experience it that way. Conducting experiments in class will undoubtedly draw the students\u2019 attention, as it\u2019s something more visual and different from anything else they\u2019re used to. In addition, when students see for themselves how engineering can be applied in the real world, they will be more interested in learning its ins and outs.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This is because even though engineering and maths, for instance, are objective and exact sciences, for many, they can be too \u2018abstract\u2019. This means that students might find it difficult to see the practicality of what they learn in class.<\/span>\u00a0Doing experiments can change that perspective and interest students in engineering. For exam<\/span>ple, building a functional pinwheel can help students better understand wheel-and-axle mechanisms, and constructing a set of gears will allow them to develop spatial and mathematical skills.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The options are limitless! Teaching engineering in the classroom requires creativity so that you can engage students in this and other STEM sciences from an early age.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Make Your Activities Appropriate for All Learning Types<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

The above activities are very hands-on and perfect for those who learn best through practical tasks; however, it\u2019s important to remember that not everyone learns best this way and that engineering isn\u2019t always practical. In addition, the industry is so large and needs many different types of people to function as a whole. Consequently, you must include all kinds of learners in your teaching. For example, consider maths-based activities such as data collections as well as visual learning activities such as engaging videos and TV shows.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Try and cover as many learning types as you can in one session \u2013 you never know who you\u2019re going to spark some inspiration in.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Ensuring Everyone is Included<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Being inclusive is vital and something that we here at European Springs actively encourage.<\/span> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span>Engineering is a heavily male-dominated field, with women making up just 14.5% of engineers in the UK as of a report made in June 2021.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The key to levelling out these numbers is inspiring younger generations of women, which starts in the classroom. Just one activity completed in a classroom in primary school could spark an interest in a young girl that stays with her all the way through to choosing her career path as an engineer.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Engineering Apprenticeships at European Springs<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

At European Springs, we\u2019re proud of our work to inspire and encourage younger generations to get involved in the engineering industry. We take on apprentices each year and work closely with them to develop their skills in an area that interests them. We do this by following a structure of hands-on learning techniques, including:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n