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:

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

Bronze Silver Gold Partner resources

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All SuperStar challenges

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/).

Polymer Problem Activity

Polymer Problem Activity Card To: You From: Dr Polly Murs RE: Polymer Problem Dear Investigators, Superstar Polymer Competition Scientists at Horners use special substances called polymers to create great new products. Polymers are long chains of tiny particles joined together in groups, a bit like long strings of beads. They use polymers to make stretchy nylon tights, super absorbent nappies and polystyrene cups that keep drinks warm. But they need more ideas! Can you design a great new polymer product? We think we could use sponge to make super silent sneakers, but what else can we do? Over to you! Polly Dr Polly Murs Your challenge Help Dr Polly Murs and the other scientists at Horners to think of some new uses for materials made from polymers. Discuss Talk about some things you use every day that might be made from polymers. Stick a post-it note on five things in the room that you think are made from polymers. Do you all agree?

Getting started Explore the materials on your table. Each material is made from a polymer. What does it look like? What does it feel like? Slippery Sticky Bouncy Light Stretchy Absorbent Flexible Squashy Waterproof Transparent Keeps things warm Bendy Shiny Hard Test your ideas What can be made using your polymer materials? Be really creative. Choose your favourite idea for using one of your polymers and create your design. Make sure your design is big and clear so that you can convince your friends how brilliant it is. Share your ideas You have one minute to share your design. What will you say? Which ideas will you send to Dr Polly Murs? Extra things to do Find out about recycling polymers. Not all polymers are manufactured. Where can you find natural polymers? What would be different if scientists hadn’t discovered polymers? British Science Association Registered Charity No. 212479 and SC039236