Global STEM Challenges

Practical Action Schools produce FREE resources for primary and secondary teachers that help pupils understand and engage with global issues, focusing on the role of STEM and using examples from our organisation. Practical Action is an international development organisation putting ingenious ideas to work so people in poverty can change their world.

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STEM Challenges

A range of different STEM challenges for lessons or an off-timetable day. Perfect for National Science and Engineering Week! Practical Action offers...
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Plastics Challenge

An exciting new challenge for pupils to develop solutions to the problems caused by plastic waste globally. The challenge can be used flexibly as...

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Beat the Flood

For pupils age 7-14 to use STEM skills to design and build a model of a flood-proof house. Set on a fictitious island coping with the devastating...
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Using science and much more to 'Beat the Flood'

One class learns of the important role of science and technology in solving a real-world problems as they tackle a practical challenge.

Wed, 01/01/2014

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Yummy Yoghurt Makers

A CREST star investigation produced in collaboration with the British Science Association for primary pupils. Pupils find out how farmers in...
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Global learning opportunities linked to the curriculum

Make links between the UK science curricula and global learning. Global learning is not just about the context, it is about using methodologies that...
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100 Small things

Ideas for small things pupils can do to make a difference to their global community and environment. A free colourful A1 Poster for students aged 7-...
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Floating garden challenge

The problem: Flooded farmland in Bangladesh caused by increased rainfall. The challenge: to design and build a model structure that will enable...
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Small Is... Challenge

Challenge your students to invent a product that could help us lead a more sustainable future. Students look at technologies from the last 100 years...
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Practical Action Posters

A range of colourful posters to support a variety of projects and challenges is freely available from Practical Action. These posters can be posted...
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#techjustice in action

A series of three videos, technology justice is about ensuring everyone has access to technology that is essential for life. Technology justice is...
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Water for the world

Help pupils find out about access to water and build their own filters. Working in teams, pupils explore issues around access to water and cleaning...
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Practical Action evaluation tools

These evaluation tools give students (aged 7-19) an opportunity to analyse their products, designs or existing products. All of the evaluation...
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Who's most at risk?

A role play activity for pupils to explore key factors that place people around the world at risk. The resource comprises teacher's notes, pupil...
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Making a Difference

Increase your pupils' awareness of careers within STEM industries using these resources. Students are often unaware of the opportunities open to them...
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The Squashed Tomato Challenge

Challenge your students to take on a real-life problem affecting people in Nepal. The problem: In Nepal many farmers living on the mountainside grow...
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Practical Action galleries

These images are ideal for stimulating discussion in science topics for students of all ages and for student project work. Images from Practical...
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Technology Justice

Questions around technology and the right to access it are explored in these resources for students aged 9-19. Should everyone be able to have...
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The wind power challenge

Students are challenged to design and make a wind powered machine that can lift a weighted cup off the floor. This challenge is suitable for students...
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Stop the Spread

Pupils research infectious diseases then design and build a model of a hand washing device for a school in Kenya. Stop the spread is a STEM challenge...
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Moja Island

Moja Island is a discussion-based activity which will reinforce students' understanding of renewable energy sources. Students consider the variety of...
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Energy and the Global Goals

Two short activities to develop understanding of why energy is essential to achieving the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In these...
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Power for the world

Pupils explore climate change issues and energy in schools, and the science of renewable energy resources with a global dimension. The activity was...
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Smoky Homes

A STEM project where pupils explore problems faced by people who cook on open fires or traditional cooking stoves. The lesson resources can be used...
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Introducing the Six R's

An activity where students look at the 6Rs of sustainability, recycle, reduce, reuse, refuse, repair, rethink. Many of the GCSE examination courses...
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Pumpkins Against Poverty

A set of cross curricular activities to explore how growing pumpkins affects people living in flood prone regions of Bangladesh. Children are...

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Food Preparation and Nutrition

These resources have been developed to support the delivery of units within the new Food Preparation and Nutrition GCSE courses. One of the biggest...
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