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stemNRICH - Technology

Welcome to the Design Technology collection of stemNRICH resources.

In these resources, maths is used as a tool to explore some aspect of design technology.  Some might be best used in the maths lesson, with reference made to the science.  Others could be taught as cross-curricular topics. 


Stage 3 is roughly 11-14 years and Stage 4 roughly 14-16 years. The stars indicate how easily most learners can get into the problem, although most problems contain enough depth to challenge and stimulate all.

Back to main STEM pages.
 

Problems with teacher support


The following problems contain detailed teacher support concerning how we might use the task in schools.  However, since these problems are intended to be rich mathematical activities they can be used effectively in many ways and at many levels of sophistication, both in the classroom and by individuals.

Tom Learns to Cook

Age 7 to 11
Challenge Level Yellow star

If Tom wants to learn to cook his favourite supper, he needs to make a schedule so that everything is ready at the same time.

Troublesome Triangles

Age 7 to 14
Challenge Level Yellow star

Many natural systems appear to be in equilibrium until suddenly a critical point is reached, setting up a mudslide or an avalanche or an earthquake. In this project, students will use a simple simulation game to investigate the properties of such systems.

Make Your Own Robot

Age 7 to 14
Challenge Level Yellow star

A simple robot to make, plus robots in everyday life to investigate.

Flip Your Mat!

Age 7 to 14
Challenge Level Yellow star

What shape and size of drinks mat is best for flipping and catching?

Helicopters

Age 7 to 16
Challenge Level Yellow star

Design and test a paper helicopter. What is the best design?

Oblique Projection

Age 11 to 14
Challenge Level Yellow star

Explore the properties of oblique projection.

Isometric Drawing

Age 11 to 14
Challenge Level Yellow star

Explore the properties of isometric drawings.

Chocolate Cake

Age 11 to 14
Challenge Level Yellow star

If I don't have the size of cake tin specified in my recipe, will the size I do have be OK?

Toad in the Hole

Age 11 to 14
Challenge Level Yellow star

Is it cheaper to cook a meal from scratch or to buy a ready meal? What difference does the number of people you're cooking for make?

Make Your Own Pencil Case

Age 11 to 14
Challenge Level Yellow star

What shape would fit your pens and pencils best? How can you make it?

Straw Scaffold

Age 11 to 14
Challenge Level Yellow star

Build a scaffold out of drinking-straws to support a cup of water

Tray Bake

Age 11 to 14
Challenge Level Yellow star

My recipe is for 12 cakes - how do I change it if I want to make a different number of cakes?

3D Drawing

Age 11 to 16

The design technology curriculum requires students to be able to represent 3-dimensional objects on paper. This article introduces some of the mathematical ideas which underlie such methods.

Flower Power

Age 11 to 16
Challenge Level Yellow star

Create a symmetrical fabric design based on a flower motif - and realise it in Logo.

Perspective Drawing

Age 11 to 16
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow star

Explore the properties of perspective drawing.

Designing Table Mats

Age 11 to 16
Challenge Level Yellow star

Formulate and investigate a simple mathematical model for the design of a table mat.

stemNRICH - Technology

Age 11 to 16
Challenge Level Yellow star

This is the technology section of stemNRICH - Core.

Hmm ... When Should Tom Have Put the Rice on ...

Age 11 to 16
Challenge Level Yellow star

Creating a schedule to cook a meal consisting of two different recipes, plus rice.

Gym Bag

Age 11 to 16
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow star

Can Jo make a gym bag for her trainers from the piece of fabric she has?

Witch's Hat

Age 11 to 16
Challenge Level Yellow star

What shapes should Elly cut out to make a witch's hat? How can she make a taller hat?

Cool as Ice

Age 11 to 16
Challenge Level Yellow star

Design and construct a prototype intercooler which will satisfy agreed quality control constraints.

stemNRICH Picture of the Month

Age 11 to 18
Challenge Level Yellow star

Making Moiré Patterns

Age 11 to 18
Challenge Level Yellow star

Moiré patterns are intriguing interference patterns. Create your own beautiful examples using LOGO!

Chopped Dice

Age 14 to 16
Challenge Level Yellow star

Can you make a new type of fair die with 14 faces by shaving the corners off a cube?

Robot Camera

Age 14 to 16
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow star

Could nanotechnology be used to see if an artery is blocked? Or is this just science fiction?

Carbon Footprints

Age 14 to 16
Challenge Level Yellow star

Is it really greener to go on the bus, or to buy local?

Mystery Procedure

Age 14 to 16
Challenge Level Yellow star

Can you work out what this procedure is doing?

Track Design

Age 14 to 16
Challenge Level Yellow star

Where should runners start the 200m race so that they have all run the same distance by the finish?

The Olympic LOGO

Age 16 to 18
ShortChallenge Level Yellow star

Can you use LOGO to draw a logo?

engNRICH

Age 16 to 18
Challenge Level Yellow star

engNRICH is the area of the stemNRICH Advanced site devoted to the mathematics underlying the study of engineering

Problems without specific teacher support


The following problems are without specific teacher notes. These are often problems which would be difficult to fit into a typical curriculum area at school or are very open ended. They will be interesting for students interested in the general subject area to explore alone or for teachers to explore for ideas to bring to their own classrooms.

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Playground Snapshot

The image in this problem is part of a piece of equipment found in the playground of a school. How would you describe it to someone over the phone?

The Codabar Check

This article explains how credit card numbers are defined and the check digit serves to verify their accuracy.

Air Nets

Can you visualise whether these nets fold up into 3D shapes? Watch the videos each time to see if you were correct.

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The NRICH Project aims to enrich the mathematical experiences of all learners. To support this aim, members of the NRICH team work in a wide range of capacities, including providing professional development for teachers wishing to embed rich mathematical tasks into everyday classroom practice.

NRICH is part of the family of activities in the Millennium Mathematics Project.

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