RAF Museum Midlands Design and Technology Resources

Published 9th December 2024

The RAF Museum Midlands offers resources tailored to primary and secondary classrooms, making it a valuable tool for design and technology teachers. By focusing on practical, curriculum-linked activities, the museum provides teachers with creative ways to engage students in engineering, design, and problem-solving.

Primary-Level Resources

For primary school teachers, the museum offers simple, hands-on activities to introduce pupils to STEM, engineering and design. Resources like ‘Build Your Own Aircraft’ allow students to explore design thinking in a manageable and enjoyable way. These materials tie into the National Curriculum, particularly in areas like materials, mechanisms, and forces, making them an ideal supplement to D&T lessons.

The resources are accessible and well-structured, with clear instructions and objectives, making them easy for teachers to implement even without a specialised D&T background. Each resource is ready-to-use and includes detailed instructions, worksheets, and activities that can be adapted to different classroom settings.

Secondary-Level Resources

Secondary teachers will find the museum’s resources useful for project-based learning and linking classroom theory to real-world applications. Modules like ‘Aircraft Design Challenge’ and ‘Forces in Flight’ provide opportunities for students to tackle engineering challenges, encouraging critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

These materials also integrate elements of STEM, helping students see the connections between science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. They align with key areas of the D&T curriculum, including product design, material selection, and prototyping, making them a great tool for lesson planning.

Design & Technology Association Director of Education Ryan Ball explains, “It was great to visit the RAF Museum Midlands and to chat with their education team. There are already a wealth of great opportunities available to schools, teachers and young people as part of their educational programmes, but we are looking forward to supporting them to further align with D&T and to seek out more contextualised learning opportunities linked to aviation and the RAF.”

The resources connect directly to real-world contexts, such as aviation and engineering, which can inspire students and help them see the relevance of what they’re learning. For teachers aiming to introduce their students to potential careers in these fields, the resources provide a natural bridge to discussions about industry applications. This is something that closely aligns with our views at the Association.

Beyond the Classroom

For teachers who can organise a visit, the museum offers interactive exhibits and workshops that complement its online materials. These experiences provide students with hands-on opportunities to explore aviation history and technology, deepening engagement and understanding.

Whether used to enhance classroom lessons or as part of a broader exploration of aviation and engineering, these materials are a valuable addition to any teacher’s toolkit.

RAF Midlands Museum is part of the D&T Association Blueprint 1000 scheme to connect education and industry. Find out more about Blueprint 1000 by visiting: www.blueprint1000.org.uk

See the RAF Midlands Resources:

School Resources

School Resources | Educational visits | Cosford | RAF Museum

Primary Resources

Primary Schools - Classroom Resources - RAF Museum

Secondary Resource

Secondary Schools - Classroom resources - RAF Museum

Visiting RAF Midlands Museum

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