Learning zone 

The Educational Trust has produced teaching materials for teachers in schools in conjunction with partnering organisations.

These learning activities are designed to encourage the interest of students and influence the national curriculum in promoting structural engineering to school students.

The following projects below help students understand that the basics they learn at school in science, technology, engineering and mathematics lead onto practical applications in engineering.

 Building the London Eye  Jacobs Babtie

The London Eye has been a tremendous success and is now one of the world's best known structures.

It has provoked great interest both architecturally and technically and provides a wonderful inspiration to young people of the challenges and rewards of engineering.

Although the Eye's design looks complicated, many of the technical demands are perfectly understandable from topics taught in schools within mathematics and physics at both GCSE and A level.

Slides and notes within the presentation show the practical relevance of subjects taught on the curriculum.

Highlighted are the differing disciplines required to create the Eye and the career paths pupils may choose to adopt depending on their particular interests.

Download the Building the London Eye presentation  or request a copy by contacting membership.

 Engineering for everyone - young structural engineers in the making  Arup

Engineering for everyone takes university engineering students into local primary schools to talk about structural engineering.

The lesson format is in three sections:

1. Firstly a 20 minute presentation asking the children for their ideas about what engineers do and why the engineer's role in society is important.
2. The children are split into groups of around 6 and given an engineering student to guide them with the design and construction of their bridge to span 50cm between tables using only two sheets of A1 card, sellotape, string and their own creativity for resources. They are given an hour and a half to complete the structure.
3. The lesson concludes with a competition that marks the bridges for aesthetics, general design and load-carrying capacity. All children are awarded prizes and certificates.

For further information about the scheme please contact Will Emeny at Arup or download a copy of the Engineering for everyone presentation 

 Structural mechanics of a park bench  Bartlett Kendall Associates

Prepared for Year 9 students, the activity demonstrates the relevance of mathematical and scientific theory to a real-life problem and showing how the combination of science, technology, engineering and mathematics can be considered as structural engineering.

It can be readily used by teachers with minimal preparation.

For further information about the project download a copy of the structural mechanics of a park bench activity  

 Teaching materials for use in schools

Final year undergraduates at the University of Cambridge produced modules for use by teachers on the topics of 'Stadium Roof Design', 'Bridge Design' and 'Tall Buildings'.

The material is aimed at students in the final year of their GCSE courses just before they have to take the decision about which subjects they will pursue at A level and/or beyond.

Each activity is supported by a teacher's PowerPoint presentation, guidance notes for teachers and student worksheets.

They are designed for use by teachers without the need for further input, but might be even more effective if a member from the Institution can arrange a visit to the school to provide a demonstration.

For further information about the modules and how to access the topics... Read more