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:

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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/).

SURPRISING STAINS

SURPRISING STAINS Surprising Stains Organiser’s Card SURPRISING STAINS About the activity This activity is designed to get children thinking about chemistry. Cosmic and Gem have been picking and eating blackberries and managed to get juice on their white tee shirts. Cosmic puts soap on his, Gem puts lemon juice on hers. Both of the stains changed colour - can the children work out why? Through this activity you will support your group to: • Investigate what caused the colour changes. • Explore different plant materials (food) that change colour. • Group chemicals by colour change and make a chart. Kit list • Blackberries - you do not need a lot of juice (you could use ripe blackcurrants instead) • Saucers or small containers • Spoons • Lemon juice (bottled is fine) • Liquid soap • A selection from lime juice, vinegar, fizzy drinks, apple juice, white grape juice, orange juice, crushed rhubarb, cream of tartar, yoghurt etc. (optional) • A selection from baking soda, mild washing powder, indigestion tablets, milk of magnesia, toothpaste, window cleaner (with ammonia) etc. (optional) • Other dark coloured plants - see the ACTIVITY CARD. What to do 1. Read the ACTIVITY CARD to familiarise yourself with the activity. 2. Check the Kit list and ensure you have the correct resources. 3. Set the scene by discussing the story with the children. 5. Encourage children to talk together to develop their own ideas. 6. Encourage children to follow Frank’s ideas and then to explore their own ideas. 7. Encourage the children to make their own records. This might include creating a poster or chart. 4. Help the children to identify what the problem is.

Things to think about Many of the plants listed in the ACTVITY CARD will change colour. Many red or purple plants will work, but red cabbage is particularly effective. The slightly smelly, but strongly coloured, liquid gives a broad range of colours when various substances are added. Extracting the colour is best done by boiling the cabbage. Encourage children to compare several plants. Keywords • Stains • Colour • Plants • Berries • Acid • Alkali • Chemistry. Watch out! More colour can be extracted from plant material if it is heated. Only allow children to use hot water under supervision. Using warm water helps reduce the safety risks. Do not let children use any substances in the kitchen that may be hazardous such as bleach, washing soda, dishwasher detergent and powerful cleaners. Do not taste anything in this activity. British Science Association Registered Charity No. 212479 and SC039236