Bronze Awards are typically completed by students aged 11+. They complete a ten-hour project which is a perfect introduction to STEM project work. Over the course of the project, teams of students design their own investigation, record their findings, and reflect on their learnings. This process gives students a taste of what it is like to be a scientist or engineer in the real-world.
Silver Awards are typically completed by students aged 14+ over thirty hours. Project work at Silver level is designed to stretch your students and enrich their STEM studies. Students direct the project, determining the project’s aim and how they will achieve it. They carry out the project, record and analyse their results and reflect on the project and their learnings. All Silver projects are assessed by CREST assessors via our online platform.
Gold Awards are typically completed by students aged 16+ over seventy hours. Students’ projects are self-directed, longer term and immerse them in real research. At this level, we recommend students work with a mentor from their chosen STEM field of study. All Gold projects are assessed by CREST assessors via our online platform. There are more CREST approved resources that have been developed by our partners and providers specific to your region.
There are more CREST approved resources that have been developed by our partners and providers specific to your region.
Find out how to build practical CREST projects into secondary science lessons using our free teacher guidance pack. Supporting this guidance are easy-to-use, free-to-download mapping workbooks, which match individual Bronze, Silver and Gold CREST Award projects with each area of the secondary science curricula for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. You can download and save your own copy of the relevant mapping workbook via the following links:
To browse the briefs, click the buttons below or scroll down.
A Sticky Problem Organiser’s Card About the activity This activity is designed to get children thinking about the different properties of glue. The children have been asked to read a letter printed in the Weekly Woodworker magazine from Ineda Bond. She’s not sure which glue is the most suitable to build a cart and needs some help. Through this activity you will support your group to: • Make three different glue recipes • Conduct different tests on all their glue mixtures to compare different properties • Write a letter to tell Weekly Woodworker magazine about their results Kit list Glue ingredients: • Flour • Vinegar • Skimmed milk (or non-fat milk powder with hot tap water) • Baking soda (bicarbonate of soda, NOT baking powder) • Cornflour For testing: • Glue spreaders • Small blocks of wood, card or cork, wooden lolly sticks • Force meters (optional) • Funnel • Beaker • Paper towels • Bowls or pots to make the glues in • Samples of cloth, large bowl of warm soapy water, timer • Labels, or pens to label the different glues
What to do 1. Introduce the activity using the letter from Ineda Bond. Ask them about the different properties of glue. 2. Give out activity cards and equipment to the children. 3. Explain that they will be using the equipment provided to make three different glue mixtures and test them. 4. Encourage children to discuss their ideas and how to carry out their investigations. Prompt questions: • What makes a ‘good’ glue? • What properties will they test and how will they test them? • How will they record their results? • How will they make sure their test is fair? 5. Support children to conduct their tests and make their own records of their results. They could also take photographs or make drawings. 6. Ask the children to present their findings to the rest of the group, they can be as creative in their presentation as they want, the activity card suggests they could write a reply to Weekly Woodworker magazine. Could also take photographs or make drawings. Things to think about You should be able to store the glue in plastic containers in the fridge for a short time. Keep the containers sealed. If the paste dries up, just put the sealed container in a bowl of warm water. The only way to measure glue performance accurately is through laboratory testing. Because of this, the children’s tests will not be perfect, but it is important that they are encouraged to try to make fair comparisons between glues. Keywords • Glue • Adhesive • Bonds • Properties Watch out! These glues can be messy but are perfectly safe. Pay extra attention where hot water is used. Children need to wash their hands and rinse equipment when finished. They may need plastic aprons and gloves.. British Science Association Registered Charity No. 212479 and SC039236
Disappearing Dinosaurs Organiser’
Disappearing Dinosaurs Activity Car
Discus Dilemma Organiser’s Card A
Discus Dilemma Activity Card Mr Cle
Drifting Dandelions Organiser’s C
Drifting Dandelions Help our Raveno
Fantastic Fingerprints Organiser’
Fantastic Fingerprints Activity Car
Fossil Folly Organiser’s Card Abo
Fossil Folly Activity Card A box of
Uncle Astro Get Set Jellies Organis
Get Set Jellies Activity Card Uncle
Goodbye Old Tree Organiser’s Card
Goodbye Old Tree Activity Card NEWS
Hoodie Hearing Organiser’s Card A
Hoodie Hearing Activity Card Headte
How Do You Drink Yours? Organiser
How Do You Drink Yours? Tea rituals
Share your ideas Do most people dri
What to do 1. In advance prepare th
NVESTIGATING INK Discuss What ways
Things to think about Encourage the
Getting started Think about how oth
Things to think about The cups and
Getting started Some of your fellow
CALAMITY What to do 1. Read the ACT
Getting started A kite is made up o
What to do MAKING TOOTHPASTE 1. Rea
Your challenge Bright Smile Toothpa
OUTDOOR GYM OUTDOOR GYM Outdoor Gym
Outdoor Gym R GYM Activity Card You
Test your ideas Which parts of the
Things to think about In this activ
Discuss Can you think of any intere
Playground Games PLAYGROUND GAMES O
Playground Games PLAYGROUND GAMES A
Polymer Problem Organiser’s Card
Polymer Problem Activity Card To: Y
Protecting Polymers Organiser’s C
Protecting Polymers Activity Card Y
ACING ROCKETS Racing Rockets Organi
Keywords • Aerodynamics • Fligh
Discuss Are all rockets the same sh
What to do 1. Read the ACTIVITY CAR
RECYCLE REUSE Recycle Reuse Activit
Spinning Solutions Organiser’s Ca
Spinning Solutions Activity Card Ri
Super Spinners Organiser’s Card A
SUPER SPINNERS Take it further In t
Getting started SUPER SPINNERS You
Things to think about Many of the p
Getting started Here is what Frank
Testing and Comparing Tea Organiser
Testing and Comparing Tea Activity
Tomato Sauce Organiser’s Card TOM
Keywords • Sauce • Viscosity SA
Discuss TOMATO SAUCE How thick do y
Things to think about Some trees wi
Getting started Some fellow investi
What to do 1. Read the ACTIVITY CAR
TUMBLING TOAST Tumbling Toast TUMBL
Under Your Feet Organiser’s Card
Take it further There is a wide ran
Getting started Cut a big foot shap
Things to think about Scientists ar
Getting started You could start by
Windy Ways Organiser’s Card About
Windy ways Activity Card NEWS NEWS
Worm Charming Organiser’s Card Ab
Keywords • Nature • Vibration
WORM CHARMING Getting started Make
6. Help the children to make their
Getting started Before you start wa
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Ten hour projects recommended for ages 11+. Find out more about this level and how to gain a CREST Award on the Bronze Awards page.
Thirty hour projects recommended for ages 14+. Find out more about this level and how to gain a CREST Award on the Silver Award page.
Seventy hour projects recommended for ages 16+. Find out more about this level and how to gain a CREST Award on the Gold Awards page
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