The imagineering 'in school' challenge programme provides exciting half or full day STEM activities for children in Years 4, 5, 6 & 7. The following activities are available in 2009/2010.

K'Nex Challenge 2009/2010

KS2, YR 4 - YR 6

This very popular KS2 competition was run by Imagineering in the 2009/10 year with over 20 Schools and 1300 children taking part in the Coventry and Warwickshire sub region. This is based on a design, make and test activity using a comprehensive Knex Kit with evaluations of sketching/drawing team work, final model and an operational test.
For 2010/2011 the half day School Sessions will run from 5th October until early late june with a final entry date of 14th 6th June 2011 and prices include certificates anf FREE entry to the County Final event. Please book early if you would like to secure a preferred date for your school. This challenge is suitable for Years 4, 5 and 6. Information for year groups involved, expected numbers, session times required and proposed delivery location is most useful when booking. The challenge can be run for a maximum of 70 children in any one session.

Price:
Half day - £120 for groups of up to 35
Half day - £170 for groups of 36-70

Gravity & Sail Buggy Challenge

KS2

A Half or full day activity designing, making, modifying and testing small Knex 4 and 3 wheeled model vehicles built to strict specifications. Testing with inclined plane and table fans enables concepts of gravitational and ‘fluid’ forces to be demonstrated & compared. (Can be run for KS1, Y2 in a simplified form)

Price:
Half day - £120 for groups of up to 35
Full day - £200 for groups of up to 60

Structures

KS2 - KS3, YR 4 - YR 7

Challenges involving various types of structure, Design, building and testing for strength and stability, some with loading tests to destruction. Activities can be chosen to involve various materials, towers, frames, polygons, bridges, and building sections. These challenges are a useful enhancement for the curriculum elements on forces and strong shapes. Students work in teams and for some need to set up a manufacturing production line to make the structural components.

Price:
Half day - £120 for groups of up to 35
Full day - £200 for groups of up to 60

Rockets and Bloodhound Rocket Car

KS2 - KS3

The Rocket Vehicle challenge involves design and construction of a simple vehicle which can be propelled by a compressed air pulse. Good structural design and correct wheel alignment gives a challenge to the students to make a vehicle which will not disintegrate and run straight for a long distance. Air rockets can be enhanced by detailed theory on the NASA web site. Simple card tube rockets with fins can be fired at 450 showing stability on an arced flight, the best ones go furthest. Simple average speed calculations can be made and relationships between rocket weight and performance considered

Price:
Half day - £120 for groups of up to 35
Full day - £200 for groups of up to 60

Flight

Starting with the simple theory of how flight can be achieved and some simple paper gliders, children build an individual advanced wooden Glider which is competitively tested and they keep.

Price:
Half day - £120 for groups of up to 30

Compass and Morse Buzzer

Imagineering taster session
After revising magnetism, children build a working compass, magnetising the pointer, making the scale, assembling all parts, on fine days the challenge can be completed by following a short navigational exercise using the compass. Extending to simple electromagnetism children can build a working Morse key buzzer. This can bring out many simple electrical circuit concepts including multiple switch action and inductance as they watch the sparks!

Price:
Half day - £120 for groups of up to 30 plus model costs

Steady Hand Game

Imagineering taster session
An exciting construction challenge which is made without any soldering activity. A polarity sensitive 1.5V buzzer is used with a kit of parts containing 10 pieces. The unit is mounted on a predrilled wooden baseboard. As well as reinforcing electrical circuit theory the unit gives students free reign to their own design ability for the contact wire pattern.

Price:
Half day - £120 for groups of up to 30 plus model costs

Three axis Hydraulic arm with Gripper

KS2 - KS3, YR 6 - YR 7

Imagineering taster session
Practical robotics in action using water filled syringe actuators on a Revolute Robot capable of holding and moving a cup full of water. Simple hydraulic theory is covered and practical rotational mechanisms built. A class group using 10 robots can end with a timed production line competition. This challenge has been run in a modified form at National Technology Fairs (Big Bang)

Price:
Half day - £120 for groups of up to 30

The Alternative Energy Challenge

COMING SOON
Imagineering taster session
Wind Generators and Solar Cells – ‘The Alternative Energy Power Station’ Plans for this involve Solar Cells plus a simple Wind generator mounted on a flexible framework, Fan blades can be are shaped and put on a simple hub to drive the generator. Operation is tested using a powerful security light and table fan

Price:
Half day - £120 for groups of up to 30

Vehicles & moving structures in control

COMING SOON
Imagineering taster session
Knex and possibly other 'construction' kits in control using simple programming interfaces probably including the new unique 'Imagineering Controller Board' ©

Price:
Half day - £120 for groups of up to 30