This collection of STEM resources is based on maths which supports the SET subjects. Resources are listed in order of stage.
problem
Curve Spotting
Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
Can you spot circles, spirals and other types of curves in these photos?
problem
Favourite
Order, Order!
Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
Can you place these quantities in order from smallest to largest?
problem
First Forward Into Logo 2: Polygons
Age
7 to 16
Challenge level
This is the second in a twelve part introduction to Logo for beginners. In this part you learn to draw polygons.
problem
First Forward into Logo 4: Circles
Age
7 to 16
Challenge level
Learn how to draw circles using Logo. Wait a minute! Are they really circles? If not what are they?
problem
First Forward into Logo 5: Pen Up, Pen Down
Age
7 to 16
Challenge level
Learn about Pen Up and Pen Down in Logo
problem
Order the changes
Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
Can you order pictures of the development of a frog from frogspawn
and of a bean seed growing into a plant?
project
Troublesome Triangles
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.
article
The Moving Planets
Mathematics has always been a powerful tool for studying, measuring and calculating the movements of the planets, and this article gives several examples.
article
Eclipses of the Sun
Mathematics has allowed us now to measure lots of things about eclipses and so calculate exactly when they will happen, where they can be seen from, and what they will look like.
problem
First Forward Into Logo 3: Repeat REPEAT
Age
7 to 16
Challenge level
More Logo for beginners. Now learn more about the REPEAT command.
article
Plaiting and Braiding
This article for students gives some instructions about how to make some different braids.
problem
In Order
Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
Can you rank these quantities in order? You may need to find out
extra information or perform some experiments to justify your
rankings.
problem
First Forward into Logo 1: Square Five
Age
7 to 16
Challenge level
A Short introduction to using Logo. This is the first in a twelve part series.
problem
Witch's Hat
Age
11 to 16
Challenge level
What shapes should Elly cut out to make a witch's hat? How can she make a taller hat?
problem
Perspective Drawing
Age
11 to 16
Challenge level
Explore the properties of perspective drawing.
problem
Favourite
Fill Me Up
Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
Can you sketch graphs to show how the height of water changes in different containers as they are filled?
problem
Oblique Projection
Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
Explore the properties of oblique projection.
problem
First Forward into Logo 6: Variables and Procedures
Age
11 to 18
Challenge level
Learn to write procedures and build them into Logo programs. Learn to use variables.
problem
First Forward into Logo 7: Angles of Polygons
Age
11 to 18
Challenge level
More Logo for beginners. Learn to calculate exterior angles and draw regular polygons using procedures and variables.
problem
Toad in the Hole
Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
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?
problem
First Forward into Logo 9: Stars
Age
11 to 18
Challenge level
Turn through bigger angles and draw stars with Logo.
problem
First Forward into Logo 8: More about Variables
Age
11 to 18
Challenge level
Write a Logo program, putting in variables, and see the effect when you change the variables.
project
Investigating Epidemics
Simple models which help us to investigate how epidemics grow and die out.
problem
First Forward into Logo 11: Sequences
Age
11 to 18
Challenge level
This part introduces the use of Logo for number work. Learn how to use Logo to generate sequences of numbers.
problem
First Forward into Logo 12: Puzzling Sums
Age
11 to 18
Challenge level
Can you puzzle out what sequences these Logo programs will give? Then write your own Logo programs to generate sequences.
problem
Chocolate cake
Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
If I don't have the size of cake tin specified in my recipe, will the size I do have be OK?
article
Shaping the universe I - planet Earth
This article explores ths history of theories about the shape of our planet. It is the first in a series of articles looking at the significance of geometric shapes in the history of astronomy.
project
Make your own pencil case
What shape would fit your pens and pencils best? How can you make it?
problem
Favourite
Mixing Lemonade
Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
Can you work out which drink has the stronger flavour?
article
Shaping the universe II - the solar system
The second in a series of articles on visualising and modelling shapes in the history of astronomy.
problem
Favourite
Reaction timer
Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
This problem offers you two ways to test reactions - use them to investigate your ideas about speeds of reaction.
article
Shaping the universe III - to infinity and beyond
The third installment in our series on the shape of astronomical systems, this article explores galaxies and the universe beyond our solar system.
problem
Favourite
Temperature
Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
Is there a temperature at which Celsius and Fahrenheit readings are the same?
problem
Favourite
Place your orders
Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
Can you rank these sets of quantities in order, from smallest to largest? Can you provide convincing evidence for your rankings?
problem
Big and small numbers in the living world
Age
11 to 16
Challenge level
Work with numbers big and small to estimate and calculate various quantities in biological contexts.
problem
Food Chains
Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
When a habitat changes, what happens to the food chain?
problem
Pinhole Camera
Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
Make your own pinhole camera for safe observation of the sun, and find out how it works.
problem
Designing table mats
Age
11 to 16
Challenge level
Formulate and investigate a simple mathematical model for the design of a table mat.
problem
First Forward into Logo 10: Count Up - Count Down
Age
11 to 18
Challenge level
What happens when a procedure calls itself?
problem
Investigating the dilution series
Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
Which dilutions can you make using only 10ml pipettes?
problem
Counting dolphins
Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
How would you go about estimating populations of dolphins?
problem
Favourite
A question of scale
Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
Use your skill and knowledge to place various scientific lengths in order of size. Can you judge the length of objects with sizes ranging from 1 Angstrom to 1 million km with no wrong attempts?
problem
Global warming
Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
How much energy has gone into warming the planet?
problem
David and Goliath
Age
14 to 18
Challenge level
Does weight confer an advantage to shot putters?
problem
Big and small numbers in physics
Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
Work out the numerical values for these physical quantities.
problem
Biology measurement challenge
Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
Analyse these beautiful biological images and attempt to rank them in size order.
problem
Approximately certain
Age
14 to 18
Challenge level
Estimate these curious quantities sufficiently accurately that you can rank them in order of size
problem
Genetics
Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
A problem about genetics and the transmission of disease.
problem
Favourite
Back fitter
Age
14 to 18
Challenge level
10 graphs of experimental data are given. Can you use a spreadsheet to find algebraic graphs which match them closely, and thus discover the formulae most likely to govern the underlying processes?
problem
Big and Small Numbers in Chemistry
Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
Get some practice using big and small numbers in chemistry.
problem
Carbon footprints
Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
Is it really greener to go on the bus, or to buy local?
problem
Robot Camera
Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
Could nanotechnology be used to see if an artery is blocked? Or is this just science fiction?
problem
Constantly changing
Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
Many physical constants are only known to a certain accuracy. Explore the numerical error bounds in the mass of water and its constituents.
problem
Electric Kettle
Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
Explore the relationship between resistance and temperature
problem
Perfect Eclipse
Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
Use trigonometry to determine whether solar eclipses on earth can be perfect.
problem
Where are you flying?
Age
14 to 18
Challenge level
Where do people fly to from London? What is good and bad about these representations?
problem
Stadium Sightline
Age
14 to 18
Challenge level
How would you design the tiering of seats in a stadium so that all spectators have a good view?
problem
Favourite
Far Horizon
Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
An observer is on top of a lighthouse. How far from the foot of the lighthouse is the horizon that the observer can see?
problem
Guessing the graph
Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
Can you suggest a curve to fit some experimental data? Can you work out where the data might have come from?
problem
Favourite
Fill Me Up Too
Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
In Fill Me Up we invited you to sketch graphs as vessels are filled with water. Can you work out the equations of the graphs?
problem
How do you react?
Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
To investigate the relationship between the distance the ruler drops and the time taken, we need to do some mathematical modelling...
problem
Big and small numbers in biology
Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
Work with numbers big and small to estimate and calulate various quantities in biological contexts.
problem
Construct the solar system
Age
14 to 18
Challenge level
Make an accurate diagram of the solar system and explore the concept of a grand conjunction.
problem
Favourite
What's that graph?
Age
14 to 18
Challenge level
Can you work out which processes are represented by the graphs?
problem
More or less?
Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
Are these estimates of physical quantities accurate?
problem
Choose your units
Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
Which units would you choose best to fit these situations?
problem
What's the point of squash?
Age
14 to 18
Challenge level
Under which circumstances would you choose to play to 10 points in
a game of squash which is currently tied at 8-all?
problem
Big and small numbers in The Physical World
Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
Work with numbers big and small to estimate and calculate various quantities in physical contexts.
problem
Mystery Procedure
Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
Can you work out what this procedure is doing?
problem
Little little g
Age
16 to 18
Challenge level
See how little g and your weight varies around the world. Did this
variation help Bob Beamon to long-jumping succes in 1968?
problem
Light weights
Age
16 to 18
Challenge level
See how the weight of weights varies across the globe.
problem
A Very Shiny Nose?
Age
16 to 18
Challenge level
This problem explores the biology behind Rudolph's glowing red nose, and introduces the real life phenomena of bacterial quorum sensing.
problem
Angle of shot
Age
16 to 18
Challenge level
At what angle should you release the shot to break Olympic records?
problem
10 Olympic Starters
Age
16 to 18
Challenge level
10 intriguing starters related to the mechanics of sport.
problem
CSI: Chemical Scene Investigation
Age
16 to 18
Challenge level
There has been a murder on the Stevenson estate. Use your
analytical chemistry skills to assess the crime scene and identify
the cause of death...
article
The mathematical problems faced by Advanced STEM students
STEM students at university often encounter mathematical difficulties. This articles highlights the various content problems and the 7 key process problems encountered by STEM students.
