The STEPS Young Engineers Award is a nationwide competition for 3rd and 4th class students. Teams of up to six Young Engineers use the STEPS Project Book to guide them through their very own engineering project, a project that will positively impact their local community.

 

The competition introduces engineering to young children and helps them to understand how engineers work together to improve our lives. Teachers do not have to have any understanding of engineering. The STEPS Project Book lays out the steps in a very easy-to-follow manner to guide the students through each stage: brainstorming their idea, drawing their design, making the prototype and evaluating the project. It has many opportunities for curriculum links, for example the environment, material investigation and report writing.

 

The highlight of the competition is Presentation Week. This is not judged and is optional. Many teachers choose to request a STEPS Volunteer Engineer to visit the class to listen to the students' project showcase. Many others ask a local engineer to visit: a parent engineer, college student or an engineer past pupil.

 

There are lots of resources available for teachers in the STEPS Digital Teacher's Pack (available to registered teachers from 28th August).

 

For more information check out the STEPS website here and the STEPS Young Engineers Award Teacher's Conference here (six short 6-minute videos on different topics, for example curriculum links and Teacher FAQ's).

 

Be sure not to miss our Special Guest student Christmas Party for all students (last year it was RTE's Mark the Science Guy) and resources by Muinteoir Valerie!