I have recently become a Parent Governor at my local Primary School, and as part of my role I will be spending some time in the class room getting to know the kids, staff and school. This year I'll be working with Year 3 (8yr Olds).

I thought it might be a nice idea to organise some Engineering themed activities and was hoping that some of you may have some ideas and experience to share.

Just like to add to Alan's list:

Place a bar magnet under a sheet of paper. Sprinkle iron filings onto paper to reveal magnetic field. You could show the fields in attraction and repulsion with a pair of magnets and iron fillings. Though I would check with the teacher they haven't shown this demonstration before.

Using a copper conducting coil with both ends connected to a small light bulb. Move a bar magnet into and out of the coil to show the bulb lit up. Magic!

You could also demonstrate a homemade, battery powered, electrical motor. One that shows the workings on display.

Linking the three examples above, explain how the magnetic field and the copper conductor are used together in the creation of electricity to power light bulbs and TVs in homes and used in the electric motor to generate the rotating motion to power such things as a washing machine drum etc.

Edited: 31 January 2011 at 03:20 PM by mbirdi

The Education 5-19 team also produce some posters and worksheets that you may like to hand out too.

Please contact me at jhudson@theiet.org if you would like some sent to you.

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Julie Hudson
Community Online Development Executive
The Institution of Engineering and Technology

Also well worth looking at Young Engineers http://www.youngeng.org/home.asp

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Andy Millar CEng MIET MCMI

http://www.linkedin.com/in/millarandy

Thanks for your replies. There are some great ideas and the Young Engineers website looks to be a good resource.