Engineering is the ‘E’ in STEM. It is the centre of STEM because it challenges pupils to create innovative solutions to problems using their knowledge and skills learnt in Science, Technology and Maths. It promotes the important life skills of problem-solving, resilience (as pupils will often fail) and teamwork (as most projects are tackled in groups). Highly relevant to today’s challenges, Engineering also helps to develop children’s environmental and humanitarian responsibility.
In 2015 St Faith’s School, Cambridge, introduced Engineering to the curriculum for all pupils aged 7 to 13. With five years of experience and input from the engineering community (including the University of Cambridge and the Engineering Institutes) St Faith’s is delighted to be co-launching with IAPS the first ever Engineering schemes of work for prep school aged pupils.
The first scheme to be published is aimed at Year 5 pupils taught for one hour per week, but could be used with other year groups or taught in longer blocks on dedicated Engineering Days. The topics covered offer much flexibility depending on the availability of time and resources. They include detailed lesson plans, resource requirements and assessments. Other year group schemes will be released in the coming months.
Request an Engineering Scheme of Work
IAPS and St Faith’s would like to emphasise that the way Engineering is taught, ideally through an open-ended, problem-solving, child-centred approach, is as important as the content of the lessons. Details of this teaching approach are provided in the schemes but there is no substitute for experiencing successful Engineering projects at first hand by attending the IAPS Engineering Courses held at St Faith’s twice per year.
We would welcome feedback on these schemes. If you have any general comments, suggestions on how the schemes could be improved or any questions about them please contact us via info@stfaiths.co.uk
We hope that you will find these schemes valuable in introducing and developing the teaching of Engineering in your school.
