Secondary project briefs (ages 11+)


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:


England

Northern Ireland

Scotland

Wales


To browse the briefs, click the buttons below or scroll down.

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All SuperStar challenges

  • Text
  • Handson
  • Stem
  • Challenges
  • Discussion
  • Explore
  • Create
  • Experiment
  • Investigate
  • Toothpaste
  • Materials
  • Glue
  • Tomato
  • Yoghurt
  • Superstar
The activities in this pack have been selected from our library of CREST SuperStar challenges. Children need to complete eight challenges to achieve a CREST SuperStar Award. If you want, you can mix and match challenges from different packs, as long as children complete eight SuperStar challenges. This resource is published under an Attribution - non-commercial - no derivatives 4.0 International creative commons licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Brilliant Birds Activity

Brilliant Birds Activity Card The Best Of The Nests Local birdwatcher Mrs Twitcher is an expert on birds’ nests. “I think birds are brilliant,” she told our reporter. “I don’t think people can build nests like birds do.” Do you think Mrs Twitcher is right? Your challenge Can you build a birds’ nest? Make sure you only use your pretend beak! How will your nest survive in the wind and the rain? Discuss • What do birds use to build nests? • How do you think they decide which materials to collect? • How difficult do you think building a nest will be?

Getting started What materials can you find that you might be able to use to build your nest? Which ones do you think will be best? Do you need different materials inside and outside the nest? How will you keep everything together? You could start with a small bowl made out of modelling material. What other ways can you think of to build a nest? 2/2 Test your ideas What will happen to your nest on a windy day? What will happen to your nest in rainy weather? What works well and what could be improved? Share your ideas Take pictures of the best nests and make a display for Mrs Twitcher. Give a presentation on building birds’ nests. Extra things to do Do birds with different shaped beaks make different nests? Are there any unusual materials that birds use to make nests? Find out if all birds build nests. Remember to hold you pretend beak in your hands, not your mouth British Science Association Registered Charity No. 212479 and SC039236

Bronze level

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.


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Bronze

Silver level

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.


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Silver

Gold level

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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Gold

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